Gerald McFaul pleads guilty; agrees to pay back $130,000

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul pleaded guilty Monday to stealing cash from his campaign fund, forcing his employees to sell tickets to his political fundraiser and breaking ethics laws by appointing his son as special deputy.

The 76-year-old Democrat from Strongsville also agreed to pay $130,000 in restitution as part of a plea deal. The two theft in office charges and the ethics violation carry up to 10 years in prison, but he could be placed on probation instead.

The longest serving sheriff in county history will be sentenced at 2 p.m. on July 26.