Ex-Fiesta Bowl top executive enters guilty plea

MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press Published:

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Fiesta Bowl's former top executive has pleaded guilty to a felony charge to settle allegations connected to a political donations scandal.

John Junker pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon in Phoenix for his role in soliciting political contributions from Fiesta Bowl employees. The bowl later reimbursed employees for about $48,000 over a nine-year period.

Junker's plea is part of an agreement reached with Arizona prosecutors.

The state felony carries a presumptive 2 1/2-year sentence that's also eligible for probation.

The Fiesta Bowl hosts college football's national championship game every four years. The scandal nearly jeopardized the Fiesta's role as one of the four top-tier bowl groups.