Jackson Conviction Contains a Warning to Fellow Lobbyists : Capitol: Verdict is seen as sending a message about the need to keep contributions separate from advocacy of legislation.

The political corruption conviction of Clayton R. Jackson, one of Sacramento’s most powerful lobbyists, reverberated through the Capitol lobbying corps Thursday.

Lobbyists said Wednesday’s guilty verdict on all 10 counts serves as a blunt warning that if they tie campaign contributions to legislation, they run the risk of receiving a knock at the door from the FBI--just as Jackson’s suite of offices was raided in 1991 as part of a wide-ranging probe of corruption in state government.

So far, that investigation has resulted in the convictions or guilty pleas of Jackson and one other lobbyist and eight public officials, with two lawmakers and a third lobbyist awaiting trial next March.

Donald H. Heller, Jackson’s attorney, said that his client’s conviction “will have a chilling effect on lobbying at the Capitol and even those who make contributions have to think twice about making a contribution.”

George Steffes, a well-respected veteran lobbyist, said: “The outcome of this case should be a strong sign to everyone who works around here (for the) absolute need to keep activities of fund raising separate from the advocacy of issues. That should be the message.”

Jackson was found guilty of offering former state Sen. Alan Robbins a $250,000 bribe. Jackson contended that he was merely stringing Robbins along, maintaining that Robbins was attempting to extort him.

“If someone makes an illegal overture you can’t get by trying to put them off,” said Steffes, explaining another lesson learned from the Jackson case. “If you want to be comfortable, you’ve got to say: ‘I can’t do that.’ ”

One source close to the corruption probe said that if lobbyists have knowledge of bribery or extortion, they had better let prosecutors know because “the best deal goes to the first guy (coming through) . . . the door.”

One longtime lobbyist who helped organize a legal defense fund for Jackson said Thursday that lobbyists “will have to be awfully careful” from now on. Jackson, 50, a San Francisco lawyer, was unavailable for comment, but before his conviction estimated the fund had received in excess of $100,000.

In the aftermath of Jackson’s conviction, many of those supporters who rallied to his defense declined to discuss the verdict.

One lobbyist suggested that the silence may be triggered by worries that Jackson, who faces a prison sentence of at least five years, may cooperate with authorities to reduce his sentence.

Robbins’ sentence on corruption charges was reduced from five years to two years because of his cooperation in fingering Jackson and former Coastal Commissioner Mark L. Nathanson.

Nathanson, who recently began serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to corruption charges, also can reduce his prison term if he helps authorities identify other wrongdoing.

Sen. Nicholas Petris (D-Oakland), who testified on Jackson’s behalf, said he doubted that Jackson would pursue a similar course.

He said few lawmakers and lobbyists ever talk about legislation and money in the same conversation. He doubted the conviction of Jackson and former state Sen. Paul B. Carpenter would have much impact on the way business is conducted in the Capitol.

But Ruth Holton, lobbyist for Common Cause, offered a different view, saying that every new corruption conviction “makes it more clear reform is necessary.”

“The bottom line is that it’s not just a conviction of Jackson but it’s a conviction of the whole system and until we clean up the system we’re going to seek this kind of corruption,” she said.

Heller said that Jackson, too, believes that the system needs an overhaul but it should not be accomplished through criminal cases.

Richard Ross, FBI agent in charge of the Sacramento office, dismissed the criticism.

“Those 12 citizens . . . I think fixed part of the system today,” Ross said after the jury verdict was announced on Wednesday.

Federal authorities have served as watchdog on the system since the investigation surfaced in 1988 when FBI and IRS agents raided the Capitol.

Prosecutors will have little time to savor victory before preparing for the next public corruption case in March against Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) and Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier).