C. Edward McGee, Jr.of McGee & Huskey. Photo: Melanie Bell/ALM

A former Margate city commissioner was taken into custody after he was convicted of public corruption for a bribery scheme involving the landlord of his bar.

David McLean was convicted of seven felony counts Monday night in a case prosecuted by Broward Assistant State Attorney Catherine Maus and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Karadbil, who was cross-designated as a state prosecutor for the case.

Defense attorney C. Edward McGee of McGee & Huskey in Fort Lauderdale said Tuesday that he plans to appeal on double-jeopardy grounds, noting McLean was tried on parallel federal charges by Karadbil and acquitted by U.S. District Judge James Cohn in 2014 after a jury conviction.

Broward Circuit Judge Michael Usan rejected the double-jeopardy defense Jan. 23.

“I admit it's not an easy argument from my position,” McGee said. “The courts have effectively written double jeopardy out of the Constitution.”

The state jury convicted McLean of one count each of bribery by a public servant and theft, two counts of unlawful compensation and three counts of official misconduct.

McLean allegedly used his influence as an elected official to secure political favors for his landlord at a Margate strip mall where McLean leased the bar. In exchange for bribes, McLean would help land construction grants from the city's community redevelopment agency.

McLean, 56, faces up to four years in state prison at sentencing set March 12.

Barring an emergency, McGee expects McLean to remain jailed until the March hearing.