Instead, Judge Sweeney asked Lipscomb a series of standard questions to be sure he understood the charge to which he was pleading guilty.
Lipscomb stood in court with his hands in front of him as he addressed the judge, at one point gently correcting Sweeney when the judge noted he'd been represented by counsel "for months" in the City Hall probe.
It's been years, Lipscomb said.
During the court proceeding, Rohrbaugh read a statement of facts that both sides agreed to, which outlined a cozy business relationship between Holton and two of the city's top developers.
In early July 2007, Ronald Lester, a pollster, suggested doing a survey for Holton's campaign, Rohrbaugh said. The councilwoman's campaign manager at the time, Travis Tazalaar, "was reluctant to commission the survey because he did not believe it was necessary and the funds needed to pay for it could be used more effectively for other purposes," Rohrbaugh said. Holton had been in office since 1995.
But the councilwoman wanted the poll. "Holton told him [the pollster] that she would find a way to get the money," Rohrbaugh said.
She explained that she could persuade Lipscomb, Paterakis and a third person whose name Lester could not recall to pay for the poll, according to the statement of facts. Paterakis and Lipscomb then met with the councilwoman, and they agreed to her request to fund the poll, according to the statement.
Holton in late July instructed the pollster to send the bill to Lipscomb, and Lester picked up a $12,500 check at Doracon's offices. In August, Paterakis wrote a check for $6,000 to "Duracon," misspelling the name of Lipscomb's development company.
What might happen next
* State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh has said he will appeal the dismissal of a bribery charge against City Councilwoman Helen L. Holton
* Prosecutor could use Ronald H. Lipscomb's testimony to re-indict Mayor Sheila Dixon on perjury charges that were previously dismissed
* Lipscomb could testify against Dixon at her trial on theft charges, scheduled for September
* Additional charges could be filed against other defendants
