Former state Rep. Michael Decker already has pleaded guilty to soliciting a $50,000 bribe to change his party registration from Republican to Democrat and to throw his support to Jim Black in the 2003 House speaker’s race.

Today we learned more details.

SBI Agent Randy Myers testified about his interviews with Decker. According to that testimony, Decker asked Black for $20,000 up front, to be followed by the remainder of the money at a later date. The agent testified that Decker had said Black suggested campaign contributions rather than cash payments — because the campaign contributions “would be easier to explain away.”

During the testimony, District Attorney Colon Willoughby and Myers had the following exchange:

Willoughby: Would you describe for us what interaction took place after that January 24 [2003] switch [of party affiliation]?

Myers: Around the time the [legislative] session started — prior to the election of the speaker, which occurred on February 5 — Mr. Decker went to Speaker Black’s office in the legislature. Mr. Black gave Mr. Decker a manila envelope which contained $12,000 in cash and a number of checks that was in the amount in the thousands.

Willoughby: Was it approximately $37,000 in checks?

Myers: It could have been a bit less because there was also another occasion when Mr. Decker went back to Speaker Black’s office and also got another envelope that contained checks only that he deposited into his account.

Willoughby: Did Rep. Decker describe for you three times in which he received either cash and checks or campaign checks from Speaker Black?

Myers: There would be four times counting a time later on when he gets $4,000 in blank payee line checks. One time prior to the legislature — the two PAC checks. One occasion in Speaker Black’s office when there’s an envelope with cash and checks — $12,000 in cash and some checks. The third occasion, there’s an envelope with just checks. The fourth occasion — on into the spring — that’s just $4,000 in checks.

Willoughby: And what was the significance of that $4,000 in checks?

Myers: After the session started, there was a position — a job — that was created that Mr. Decker had control over, which Mr. Decker ultimately gave to his son, Michael Decker Jr. Originally, Mr. Decker told Mr. Black that he wanted the position to carry a salary of $50,000. When the job came through, the salary was only $46,000. Mr. Decker complained to Mr. Black about that, and Black gave him $4,000 in blank payee line checks, which Mr. Decker subsequently filled in his name and cashed during the first two to three weeks in May [2003].