Pro-Lynch letters fail to move judge in sentencing Former state senator gets 39 months for deal with S. Bruns. sand company BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer Former state Sen. John Lynch stood and waited to hear his sentence Tuesday. When it came, he didn’t weep, gnash his teeth or embrace despairing relatives. The disgraced former senator’s courtroom theatrics consisted, instead, of a handshake and a quiet exit. This exit concluded the criminal proceedings of a man U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie called the most powerful state public official sent to prison since he took on the job five years ago. “There was no one who had the power and influence and showed the bare-knuckled tactics that John Lynch used,” said Christie. Lynch was sentenced to spend 39 months in federal prison, pay $50,000 in fines and be on supervised release for two years, in which time he will be barred from pursuing any sort of public office. He will begin serving out his sentence on Jan. 15. In September he pleaded guilty to tax evasion and mail fraud, related to $25,000 he received from Dallenbach Sand Co. in South Brunswick. In exchange, Lynch used his influence as the state Senate president at the time to get approval for Dallenbach’s expansion. As an explicit part of the deal, his involvement was to remain hidden. During the sentencing before Judge Stanley Chesler in Newark, Lynch’s attorney, John Arseneault, noted that his client has been “inundated” with letters of support, attesting to his character as well as his long record of public service. He made note of one of 170 letters, in which a wheelchair-bound woman thanked Lynch for paying out of his own pocket to help pave her driveway. In another, it was revealed that he has been taking his neighbor out to dinner on her birthday for more than 40 years. Another letter thanked Lynch for getting the writer in touch with the best prostate surgeon in the country when he suffered from cancer. “He has done a lot outside his public role to help thousands of people. ... He gave time. He took the time to listen. He took the time to help. ... The time he has given others has to count now,” said Arseneault. He also said that Lynch’s career as a politician has benefited the state and that his actions should illustrate that Lynch is a good, principled person who made a single error in moral judgment. The prosecution, whose argument was voiced by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Chiesa, was quick to point out that, despite the outpouring of support, one cannot forget that Lynch’s actions betrayed the trust of the thousands who voted for him. “This scheme advanced his financial interests [at the expense of the voters]. ... So many people, for so long, only thought that this defendant’s influence was only being used for good,” said Chiesa. He also noted that the letters don’t, in any way, defend his crime, though some sought to minimize it. Furthermore, Chiesa said that all the letters of support themselves might be seen as damning evidence of just how far Lynch’s reach extended. He noted that all the people who wrote in support of Lynch were people who personally benefited from Lynch’s influence. “He wasn’t being inundated with requests [for help] by accident. He was inundated with requests because he got things done. ... This defendant’s influence was a gold standard,” said Chiesa. Christie agreed wholeheartedly with that sentiment, stating that there were plenty of people hurt by Lynch out there. “We cannot let those 170 voices out-shout the thousands of people John Lynch betrayed,” said Christie. “John Lynch’s crimes were meant to benefit only one person: John Lynch.” Both Christie and Chiesa said that Lynch should be made an example to other public officials who might try to advance their own interests at the expense of the voters. Judge Chesler said that while he does believe that Lynch has done a great deal of good through his years of service as a public official, it was not enough to prevent seeing the harm he did through his actions. “You have done wondrous good, but by your conduct here, you have done horrendous harm. ... This was not a single, aberrant situation,” said Chesler. “Hopefully, public officials in this state will be looking and learning at what’s happening to you today.” He also wondered out loud what exactly prompted Lynch to engage in the behavior he did, noting that he already had substantial wealth. As for Lynch, he only addressed the court for about a minute, stating how sorry he was. “I made a horrible mistake in judgment. ... Somehow, some way, I will earn the forgiveness of my family and friends,” said Lynch. Lynch has requested that he be placed in a jail in Cumberland County, where he will be closer to friends and family. Christie said that the investigation in matters involving Lynch and his financial dealings remains ongoing. In the meantime, he said that the fight against corruption in government is far from over, and that voters need to do their part. “We are not going to solve this problem for you. You have to solve it by electing better people and holding them to their promises ... and not wait until days like today,” said Christie. your conduct here, you have done horrendous harm. ... This was not a single, aberrant situation,” said Chesler. “Hopefully, public officials in this state will be looking and learning at what’s happening to you today.” He also wondered out loud what exactly prompted Lynch to engage in the behavior he did, noting that he already had substantial wealth. As for Lynch, he only addressed the court for about a minute, stating how sorry he was. “I made a horrible mistake in judgment. ... Somehow, some way, I will earn the forgiveness of my family and friends,” said Lynch. Lynch has requested that he be placed in a jail in Cumberland County, where he will be closer to friends and family. Christie said that the investigation in matters involving Lynch and his financial dealings remains ongoing. In the meantime, he said that the fight against corruption in government is far from over, and that voters need to do their part. “We are not going to solve this problem for you. You have to solve it by electing better people and holding them to their promises ... and not wait until days like today,” said Christie.