Saint Peters, Missouri Mayor Shawn Brown, 34, pleaded guilty yesterday to solicitation of a bribe from Australian red light camera vendor Redflex in June (read indictment). Brown, who refuses to step down as mayor despite the admission to the felony charge, now faces 18 to 24 months in prison. The plea agreement was designed to save Brown from the maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Brown's crime was recorded on tape when he took the $2750 check he demanded from a Redflex company representative. Brown threatened to veto an ordinance allowing red light cameras in the city unless payment was made. Redflex called the FBI before paying the bribe and succeeded in saving the red light camera program without losing the $2750.

Redflex competitor Affiliated Computer Services is currently on trial in Edmonton, Canada for a similar offer of a bribe to police officers to land a lucrative photo enforcement contract.