File Photo - Mayor Eddie Perez as he was turning his self in to ST PD in 2009 was found guilty today at Hartford Superior Court. Photo by Reggie Hales

Hartford - After two years of vehemently denying any wrongdoing and defiantly vowing a court of law would prove his innocence, former Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez lost his fight Thursday after a jury found him guilty of five felony charges, including bribery and extortion.

Hours after the verdict, Perez spokeswoman Sarah Barr issued a written statement saying “As a flurry of calls, questions and requests come in this is moment of pause. Mayor Perez, his family and his attorneys will make statements as they digest the verdict and explore their options.”

Perez has continued to proclaim his innocence and his lawyers plan to appeal the verdict.

But on Monday, Perez officially relinquished his duties as mayor saying “It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of this great city as mayor.”

His conviction and decision to step down triggered mixed reaction from several community and neighborhood leaders. Many said they were angry with Perez for what they called a “misuse of public office.” In doing so, he left the city with an undeserved black eye and left a negative image of Hartford for people nationwide, some said. Meanwhile, a handful of supporters defended Perez saying during the past decade he was responsible for many positive changes in the city.

The two-year investigation and month-long criminal trial had been triggered by his relationship with contractor Carlos Costa, who in 2003, won the bidding for the million Park Street streetscape project.

Longtime community activist Hyacinth Yennie, once a Perez supporter, who in past years publicly opposed some of his decisions, said it was time for the city to heal. She believes Perez originally had good intentions for the city, but his abuse of power ultimately led to his demise. “The love of the city sometimes turns obsessive and it can be a damaging obsession. That’s what happened here.”

What the city really needs is leaders who will represent all residents and not a few favored individuals or groups, she said. With his resignation Monday, city council President Pedro Segarra assumes the mayoral position for the remainder of Perez’s term, which runs through fall 2011.

Longtime North End community activist Gerald Thorpe said he sympathized with Perez and his family. He refused to say anything negative about Perez adding the former mayor accomplished much for the city during his 40-year public service career. Perez also helped teach him how to be a better advocate for neighborhood residents, Thorpe said.

“It’s a tragic moment,’’ he said. “A lot of people feel hurt.”

Longtime Hartford activist Ned Coll of the Revitalization Corps fame, said while he was disappointed with Perez, he was more upset with the Hartford Courant and its coverage of the trial. Where were all the minority reporters asked the bombastic Coll before criticizing The Courant for being run by a group of “corporate yuppies.”

“They don’t give a damn about Hartford or any other city,” he said. “They could care less about poor people, they just play to the wealth, to the people in the suburbs.”

Former mayoral candidate J. Stan McCauley, who in 2007 ran against Perez, called the trial and guilty conviction a “sad, sad episode” in Hartford’s history. The negative publicity generated from the scandal is a blow to the capital city, but also puts Hartford on the national news as just another disgraced city.

“Unfortunately the city will never get its day in court like Eddie did.”

Black civil rights activist Cornell Lewis, a staunch Perez supporter, called the guilty verdict a miscarriage of justice. He believes prosecutors distorted the facts and called the possibility of a 55-year jail sentence “draconian.” He also blasted Perez critics who collaborated with reporters and prosecutors adding he doubted if they and Perez supporters could ever develop a harmonious relationship.

“I don’t think Eddie deserved what he got. Granted he lied and made mistakes, but that doesn’t make you heavy-handed,’’ Lewis said.