PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- In a surprise development, the city's top prosecutor pleaded guilty Thursday to a corruption charge, resigned from office and was sent immediately to jail by a judge who said he couldn't be trusted.
Two weeks into his federal trial, District Attorney Seth Williams pleaded guilty to a single count of accepting a bribe from a businessman.
"I'm very sorry," Williams told the court, choking up as he acknowledged he would resign.
U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond said he was not inclined to trust Williams' assurances about appearing for sentencing set for Oct. 24, so ordered him immediately jailed. He was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
Diamond said he was appalled by the evidence he heard during the jury trial, and had concluded Williams "sold" his office.
Williams faces up to five years in prison.
The move came after weeks of damaging testimony against Williams, a two-term Democrat who didn't run for re-election this year.
The 50-year-old Williams was accused of illegally accepting gifts from two businessmen in exchange for legal favors. He was also charged with fraudulently using thousands of dollars from his campaign fund for personal expenses, misusing city vehicles and misappropriating money intended to fund his mother's nursing home care.
