Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Ohio Governor Bob Taft was found guilty and fined $4,000 for violating state law by not disclosing golf outings and other gifts, becoming the first governor in state history to be convicted of a crime.

Taft, the son and grandson of U.S. senators and the great- grandson of the 27th U.S. President, William H. Taft, pleaded no contest to four criminal misdemeanor charges. Franklin County Municipal Judge Mark S. Froehlich imposed the maximum fine on Taft and spared him jail time.

``The message is simple and clear; No one is above the law in the state of Ohio,'' Froehlich said during the sentencing hearing. ``Even the governor can be charged and convicted of a criminal offense.''

Taft, a Republican, announced in June that he hadn't properly disclosed golf outings he played in, and began turning over information about the events to the state ethics commission. He failed to report about $6,000 of golf outings and other gifts.

``There are just no words to express the remorse I feel about the embarrassment that I've caused my family and friends and supporters,'' Taft, 63, told reporters in a televised news conference following his arraignment at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse in Columbus. ``I'm apologizing to the people of Ohio for this unintentional, nevertheless serious, mistake.''

Taft signed a plea agreement with prosecutors from Franklin County and the city of Columbus where he agreed not to contest or appeal the guilty finding. Ohio law requires officeholders to report all gifts valued at $75 or more, and it's a first-degree misdemeanor to knowingly file a false financial disclosure form to the state ethics commission.

Won't Resign

Taft, who was first elected in 1998 and can't seek re- election next year because of term limits, told reporters at the news conference that he won't resign.

``I want to make it very clear that I will continue to do the job to which I have been elected by the people of the state of Ohio,'' Taft said.

The charges are related to federal and state investigations into the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation loss in a rare coin investment managed by Thomas Noe, a Republican fundraiser and Toledo coin dealer.

Noe, who was sued by the state's attorney general last month and accused of stealing almost $4 million from the state fund, played golf with Taft several times. Noe also paid for at least one golf outing for Taft in 2002 at Toledo's Inverness Club.

According to a statement released yesterday by Taft's attorney, R. William Meeks, Taft is reimbursing $5,989.14 to various people for the golf and other gifts, including $181.88 to Noe for golf at Inverness and another $125 to Noe for golf souvenirs, including a sweater.

To contact the reporter of this story: Eddie Baeb in Chicago at at ebaeb@Bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 18, 2005 14:06 EDT