LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Former President and CEO of Knight Oil Tools, Mark Knight, was sentenced Wednesday morning for public bribery and corrupt influence charges.

In 2014, Knight was accused of conspiring with a Russell Manuel Knight oil tools employee, Jason Kinch a Lafayette Sheriff’s deputy, and Cory Jackson a Louisiana State Police trooper, to plant drugs on his brother Bryan Knight’s vehicle.

A tip was called in that Bryan Knight was carrying illegal drugs. 

He was stopped and arrested, but the charges were dropped in late 2014.

After waiting about 2 and a half hours in a courtroom, Mark Knight was sentenced for his involvement in the framing of his own brother.

Mark Knight paid a former employee and two law enforcement officers $100,000 plus gifts to help him frame his brother, Bryan Knight.

For the Public Bribery charge, Mark was sentenced to four years hard labor suspended, three years supervised probation, a fine of $1,000, court cost, 300 hours of community service, and a forfeiture of $87,000.

For the corrupt influence change, Knight was sentenced to serve one year in the parish jail.

Mike Skinner, Knights defense attorney said, “The only comment we have is we are glad this phase of this matter is over. Because there’s pending civil litigation we really have no further comment at this time. Thank you.”

Also sentenced Jason Kinch, a Metro Narcotics agent with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at the time. 

He was sentenced to three years hard labor, all suspended, two years supervised probation and one year in the parish jail.

Kip Judice, Duson Police Chief who was assigned to LPSO criminal investigation into Knight Oil Tools.

“Today Judge Smith closed the door on two of the three defendants and certainly you’re pleased with the efforts of everybody and the criminal justice system worked today,” Judice said. 

Judge David Smith gave Mark Knight until February 15 to get his affairs in order and report to serve his sentence.

Kinch and Knight have the option to apply for home monitoring programs and wear ankle monitors, instead of sitting in jail for a year.

If they qualify, both men may not have to spend a night in jail.