MIAMI – Dade Medical College owner Ernesto Perez pleaded guilty Monday to giving illegal campaign contributions and resisting arrest without violence as part of a plea deal with the state.
Perez, 47, was sentenced to three days in jail, and was given credit for time served.
He will also serve 30 days of house arrest, three years of probation and will pay a $150,000 fine -- $95,000 of which he has already paid.
Perez will complete 160 hours of community service. As part of the deal, perjury charges were dropped against him.
Perez told Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg that he feels that his arrest was politically motivated.
"About three years ago, some powerful folks in our community decided Dade Medical College's presence was not in the best interest of the status quo of academia in our community," Perez said. "They set out to hurt our institution, which employs 400 people and 2,000 students. They succeeded."
Perez must surrender by Jan. 5.