Siegelman Sentencing Update -- Thursday Evening -- Sentence is 88 months

by: mooncat

Thu Jun 28, 2007 at 15:34:27 PM CDT

Update:  The judge sentenced Siegelman to 88 months in prison, 3 years probation, 500 hours community service, plus restitution of $181,325 and a $50,000 fine.
Scrushy sentenced to 82 months in prison, plus probation, $267,000 restitution and $150,000 fine.  He alo must pay the cost of his prison stay.

Both were taken into custody immediately.   Link here. 

It doesn't look like Judge Fuller is leaning toward a light sentence for Don Siegelman. He accepted prosecution arguments that the sentence should be longer than what's in the sentencing guidelines.

"I am convinced the conduct Gov. Siegelman engaged in damaged the public's confidence in the government of this state," Fuller said.

 [snip]

The new sentencing range for Siegelman is 188 months to 235 months, or about 15 1/2 to 19 1/2 years. The new fine range is $20,000 to $200,000.

Unfortunately, politically motivated prosecution of public figures further damages the public's confidence in the government, too.  Especially our confidence in the justice system.  And a heavy sentence for Siegelman won't wipe out concerns that he was targeted because he was a successful Democrat.

Thursday morning liveblogging here, courtesy of WSFA 12.

Thursday afternoon liveblogging here, courtesy of WSFA 12. 

Winding down liveblogging here, courtesy of WSFA 12.

Update -- Click "There's more" to see some excerpts. 

The court has recessed until later this (Thursday) evening.  I'm going to plug in a couple of excerpts from Helen Hammons' excellent liveblogging transcript over at WSFA 12's Courtroom Chronicles.  Keep in mind that this is a rough, real-time transcript. 

I really don't like where this is going regarding Siegelman and the fact that the court seems more sympathetic to Scrushy (the mind reels, I know).  This bit is from Don Siegelman, speaking on his behalf:

 ..I want to apologize to this court to this court and the people of Alabama...I want to say I'm sorry to my wife and my children....I never intended to do anything that approached a crime...I know the difference between right and wrong...It's something everyone can see...I've raised millions of dollars for thosusands of people...I have never once traded a contribution for anything...I know the jury has looked at my actions and heard my words throught the voices of Nick and they saw bribery and obstruction of justice...I am not a perfect person...That 1983 was a good lesson...I'm not a perfect person, but I am a good person...I was drawn into public service because I believe in the people of this state...All I ever wanted to do was to work to make this state a better place...I was fortunate to be raised by two wonderful parents...My dad worked all of his life, workd for 33 years for the same company and was fired from his job after he had a couple of heart attacks and I saw him cry because he thought he was bringing shame to our family....I saw my mother, who worked as a beutician from the time she was 16, work until her hands were bleeding from sticking her hands in those rough solutions....but they never quit...They never gave up...They kept working so that my brother and I could have a better life than they had...I've held my wife in my arms as she lay critically injured....from a headon collision with a drunk driver who had just been released from prison...We have not lived the kind of opulent life that one might expect...I've never been motivated by greed, power....a house without central air conditioning or heating...My wife's pleasurei s going hiking...We chose a frugal lifestyle and we were saving for our retirement...

 And Joseph Fitzpatrick for the prosecution:

 - "...There's a saying that goes Good Men sometimes do bad things and likewise Bad Men sometimes do good things....In that time I've also prosecuted charismatic public servants...The history of the world is replete with example...I'm here to argue ...both defendants must take responsibility for their actions...In this sentencing during the trial, we've heard there wasn't anything wrong with what they did...One of Mr. Scrushy's former defense counsel even said Alabama Politics 2006...It is clear defendants behavior in this case is wrong....Since drug cases have been used as an analogy...Our prisons are filled with drug dealers and users...Often people supplying the drugs are not prosecuted...Now I work in the white collar...division....Gov. Siegelman has held more statewide positions...Richard Scrushy was the CEO of a fortune 500 company...A message will be sent that the state and federal law have teeth...If these two individuals can be charged...and convicted then certainly it can happen to a local official...At a time when our junior college system is in shambles...and our Legislature....The court will remember a $40,000 bribe...The very issues being brought up in this trial lare being ignored by our Legislature...There was a fistfight on the Senate floor...They have lost respect for themselves...This court has the opportunity...to promote respect for the law...The court has the opportunity to make sure what these defendants did will never be referred to Alabama Politics 2007, 2008 and beyond..."

I do not see the connection between the defendants in this case and the two year college problems, a bribe in the legislature (which one is that?) and the fact that Sen. Bishop punched Sen. Barron.  Are they trying to exorcise all the evils in Alabama politics by sending Don Siegelman away for 15 years 7 years and 4 months?  Seigelman wasn't that powerful even when he was governor, he certainly isn't since he was convicted.