LeAnna Washington

State Sen. LeAnna Washington, D-Philadelphia, a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, speaks with the media after an emergency meeting for PLBC members, other elected officials, community leaders and stakeholders with Dr. Arlene Ackerman, superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia at the school district headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A state senator from Montgomery County was charged today with using her office for political and financial gain, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced.

The charges against Pennsyvlania Senator LeAnna Washington, D-Montgomery County, stem from a grand jury investigation.

"The evidence will show that Senator Washington pressured her staff into performing political activities using taxpayer dollars for her own personal benefit," said Kane said in a news release.

The grand jury found that Senator Washington intimidated and verbally abused her senate staff into performing campaign work. In particular, the grand jury found that she used state-paid employees and equipment at her district offices to organize an annual political campaign birthday fundraiser, which one former staff member described as a "grand, gala event." The July event coincided with Washington's birthday, said a news release from Kane's office.

Washington's district offices are at 1168 Easton Road, Roslyn, Montgomery County, and 1555-A Wadsworth Ave., Philadelphia.

According to the Attorney General's Office, Washington allegedly hid the activities from staff who expressed concern over the practices, and went so far as to issue salary cuts and fire staff who disagreed with the activities.

In addition, the grand jury learned that signs and posters for the political fundraiser were printed at the Senate Graphic Design Department located in Harrisburg, as well as congratulatory signage celebrating family milestones and other deliverables for Senator Washington's campaign activities, according to Kane's office.

The monetary loss to the Commonwealth is believed to range from at least $30,000 to in excess of $100,000, Kane said in a news release.

Washington is charged with one count of theft of services, a felony of the third degree that carries a maximum term of seven years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $15,000. She also is charged under the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act with one count of violation of the conflict of interest statute, a felony that carries a maximum term of five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,000.

If convicted of all counts, Senator Washington faces a maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $25,000. Kane said Washington will be surrendering today.

Read the full presentment below.

Presentment of criminal charges against state Senator LeAnna Washington by PennLive