NATCHEZ — Jefferson County Circuit Clerk Burnell Harris, convicted of embezzlement, tax evasion and money laundering, will be sentenced in federal court today.

In July, a federal jury found Harris guilty of embezzling $222,171.57 in county funds.

Harris was also convicted of tax evasion, mostly for the amount he embezzled, and money laundering.

The 10 a.m. sentencing will be one of the first court proceedings in the new federal courthouse on Pearl Street.

U.S. District Judge David Bramlette will sentence Harris.

The judge will consult federal sentencing guidelines to determine what Harris’ sentence should be, said District Attorney Ronnie Harper, who is not connected with the case.

U.S. attorneys prosecuted the case in July.

“The maximum sentence would be 70 years in prison and a fine of $1.75 million,” U.S. Department of Justice in Jackson spokeswoman Sheila Wilbanks said.

Harris used a different system for handling copy fees and put funds into his private bank account, prosecutors said at the trial. He also used some of the embezzled money to buy two vehicles, they said.

Harris’ defense attorneys called character witnesses and said a man with his character would not have stolen from the county intentionally.

The court will usually do a pre-sentence investigation and make a report based on guidelines, Bruce Lewis, one of Harris’ defense attorneys, said.

Lewis said he would not comment on Harris’ convictions.

“They are what they are,” he said.

Harris served as circuit clerk for Jefferson County for 24 years. After the July conviction, Harris ran for reelection and lost.