Ex-Detroit Mayor Sent To Jail For 4 Months

Kwame Kilpatrick Sentenced For Obstruction Of Justice Related To Sex Scandal

(AP)  Kwame Kilpatrick was sent to jail for four months Tuesday for his part in a sex-and-text scandal and the judge chastised the disgraced ex-mayor for arrogance and disregard for the rule of law.

Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner's sentence was the finale to the scandal that destroyed Kilpatrick's reign at City Hall and threw local government into disarray for months.

"At a time when this city needed transparency, accountability and responsibility, you exhibited hubris and privilege at the expense of the city," the judge said.

He ruled that Kilpatrick not be given an opportunity for early release.

But county sheriff's spokesman John Roach said in a subsequent statement that Groner didn't have the standing to order Kilpatrick not receive time off for good behavior.

The judge's ruling "does not override Michigan Statute that says a sheriff shall credit all sentenced county jail inmates with one day good time for every five days served, provided the individual is a model inmate," Roach said.

Kilpatrick, 38, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, admitting he lied about an affair with his chief of staff while testifying in a civil lawsuit in 2007. He also pleaded no contest to assaulting a sheriff's detective.

He was ordered to serve five years of probation and pay the city $1 million in restitution. Kilpatrick paid $20,000 to the City of Detroit on Tuesday as his downpayment on the restitution.

Groner had harsh words for Kilpatrick when he laid down the sentence.

"Ultimately what shocked this court and much of the community was your press conference after your plea hearing," the judge said. "That night, the community expected to hear a message of humility, remorse and apology. Instead, we heard an arrogant and defiant man who accused the governor, among others, for his downfall."

Kilpatrick declined an offer to address the court

Groner moved the hearing to a larger courtroom to accommodate the news media and spectators. As he waited for the sentencing hearing to begin, Kilpatrick sat back with an arm around his wife, Carlita. The ex-mayor smiled often and chatted with other family members and supporters seated nearby.

But once the hearing began, Kilpatrick's demeanor changed. At times, he was seen burying his head in his hands.

It was Kilpatrick's first public forum since the speech to supporters - referenced by the judge Tuesday - after his guilty plea Sept. 4. In that address, Kilpatrick lashed out at Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who was holding hearings to remove him from office, and told Detroit, "You done set me up for a comeback."

His next stop is the Wayne County jail, where he will be in his own cell 23 hours a day. He will not be allowed to mix with other inmates during his one hour of recreation.

Kilpatrick, a Democrat, admitted lying while testifying last year in a civil lawsuit filed by former police officers who had accused him of illegally demoting or firing them.

He and chief of staff Christine Beatty denied having an affair, but text messages obtained by a lawyer in the case - and later the Detroit Free Press - clearly contradicted them.

They used their city pagers to arrange trysts and share sexually explicit desires. A fresh batch of messages was released last week, revealing that Kilpatrick, married with three children, likely had other lovers.

The messages first were publicly disclosed in January by the Free Press. Beatty quickly resigned but Kilpatrick hung on as mayor, even when prosecutors filed criminal charges against the pair in March.

The saga rolled through spring and summer as Kilpatrick hired a team of lawyers and public-image specialists and publicly ridiculed the case against him.

The City Council voted to hold impeachment-style hearings but a judge said it was illegal. Elected officials called on Kilpatrick to step down for the sake of the entire state.

Finally, he agreed to plead guilty and resign only after the governor began the public hearing in September that could have led to his ouster.

Ken Cockrel Jr. was promoted to mayor from council president. A special election to fill the balance of Kilpatrick's term will be held in May after the field is trimmed to two candidates Feb. 24.

[platteman]

That will be fine with him. He will have a cabnet position in the great one''s adminstration. Maybe Detroit will elect him in the future to congress so he can join all the others.

[honestabe8]

Couldn''t have happened to a nicer person. Too bad he is being kept away from the general population, he could be named Honey by now.

[dionnereed]

Oh well, look at Marion Berry.

[geikos15]

Detroit''s Mayor deserves the equivalent/comparable sentence that Senator Stevens of Alaska receives. I doubt that Senator Steven will serve a day for his 7 Felon convictions... If Senator Stevens is given a pass for lying and accepting a quarter million in gifts under the table... What is the problem with the Mayor lying about his sexual affair...

[geikos15]

I believe there are too many public figures in politics getting a free pass... Let''s dispense equal justice to all of the bums... Bar all of the convicted politicians from ever serving or receiving benefits. I served honorably in the United States Military and members of the military are definitely held to a much higher standard than these dispictable politicians i.e. Detroit Mayor and Alaska''s Sr Senator. Get rid of both of them! The public deserves and should demand more of its elected leaders.

[brucie2006]

....text messaging is aaper trail. Time to clean up politics.

[brucie2006]

Geikos15
Detroit''''s Mayor deserves the equivalent/comparable sentence that Senator Stevens of Alaska receives. I doubt that Senator Steven will serve a day for his 7 Felon convictions... If Senator Stevens is given a pass for lying and accepting a quarter million in gifts under the table... What is the problem with the Mayor lying about his sexual affair...

The difference is financial "Fraud" and that is what Sen. Stevens indicted on (7 counts). Manipulating government contracts, markets is very different then using government property and time for a sexual affair(s); then lying about it.

[mytoosense]

Detroit Loves a Crook, Mayor Coleman Young ran a corrupt mayors office in Detroit for 20 years.
I believe Kwame Kilpatrick could get re-elected in the city of Detroit when he is allowed to run in 5 years.

[docnannie]

Ths guy was a liar, and cheat, long before he was elected to any office. Isn''t that a pre-requisite to becoming a politition?

[lochlan-2009]

"Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Awaits Likely 4-Month Sentence For Obstruction Of Justice"

4 months!!! This guy should have got 4 years, and if I was the judge, I would have given him ten. Corruption, fraud, and illegal activity by our representatives NEEDS SEVERE REPRECUSSIONS!!!!

[jazziej2]

Some of these remarks are completely uncalled for and ridiculous, not to mention racist as hell. Look at the cramp primin3 wrote. This is stupidity at it''s best. This has been happening in the corporate world for years. This procecutor has more than a vendetta she''s trying to get reelected and this is over procecution, who in the hell needs to see the jail cell he''s going to be in! To us who have been to jail ,they all serve the same purpose.

[xlib]

5th paragraph before his party is mentioned.
downtoearth-so I imagine you would post the same for a Republican, yes??

[lloydbest1]

"Detroit Loves a Crook, Mayor Coleman Young ran a corrupt mayors office in Detroit for 20 years.
I believe Kwame Kilpatrick could get re-elected in the city of Detroit when he is allowed to run in 5 years."
Posted by mytoosense at 09:08 AM : Oct 28, 2008

Nah, all is not lost. Detroit has a few good people running it. Ken Cockrel, for one, appears straightforward and even shows signs of compentence. Dennis Archer would have been more than willing to keep on being Detroit''s mayor after 2002 but a generally dysfunctional city council finally wore him out.
Even though seeking public office all but disqualifies one for it, "Kwummy" Kilpatrick (and Ted Stevens, for that matter) are abberations of the system, not epitomes of it.

[upto1947]

He can meet his next wife.

[upto1947]

Questi0nnews: We all know you wanted the job, but you could not take care of Heffner. Better luck next time.

[kphx]

How come if the criminal is Scooter Libby (Obstruction of Justice) he gets his sentence commuted even before it starts.

[dutchiehaley]

LADIE and GENTLEMAN!! Let me introduce you to the FACE of LIBERALISM. Kwami, who ruined, er, ran Detroit where NO Republican has been elected to ANY office in over 30 years, goes to jail. WHERE ALL LIBS SHOULD BE.

[credibility2]

K-wami, how Obama, how Obama, loves ya'' dear Kwami (Think the tune "Swanee"). Once again, a poor downtrodden crooked politician gets off light for causing substantial harm to his office, his city, its citizens, his wife and family. The face of things to come. There will be lots more of this under an Obama-Reid-Pelosi regime.

If Obama wanted to emulate McCain''s attack ads, we would hear robocalls in the Heartland informing America''s patriots that McCain:

a) was in the pocket of former Lincoln Savings & Loan president and convicted criminal Charles Keating;

b) was buddies with fellow convicted criminal Republicans Ted Stevens, Tom Delay, Scooter Libby, Bob Allen, Trent Lott, Jack Abramoff, Don Young, Larry Craig, Randy %u201CDuke%u201D Cunningham, Tom Feeney, Alberto Gonzoles, Bob Ney, Rick Renzi, Richard Curtis, Steven Griles, Mark Foley...etc;

c) accepted political donations from the Watergate convicted criminal G. Gordon Liddy;

d) picked a runningmate mired in scandal (Troopergate) and has acted "unethical" according to her own people - - and doctored expense reports to bilk her taxpayers;

You can%u2019t call yourself a patriot while voting for criminals.

[credibility2]

Not enough time for this low-life who is very close to Obama. It was the Dem party that persuaded ole'' lying jowl face Kwame not to show up at the Dem convention, even though he was an Obama delegate. The pathetic thing is that this fool smirks and laughs in the face of his crime. He has no morals, backbone or character. He''ll probably run again. Slugs like this never learn their lesson and even more tragic are the fools that continue to support them and vote them back into office. Remember DC''s Marion Barry. The drug felon is serving on the city''s council.

[spinproof]

It''s a fact of life that certain people are targeted more than others, that''s just the way it is, I guess all you can hope for is that you are not in that unlucky group.

[thisandthat1]

Too bad that they''ll be keeping this arrogant POS from the rest of the prison population. He thinks he''s above the law but I''m sure this will be only his first visit with the IL Penal system.

[edward1975-2009]

Put him in the general population, just as you would any other thug, maybe he''ll learn a lesson, at the very least respect for others.

[michtop]

Another in a long line of Detroit scumbags. Town should be emptied and used by the military for artilery practice.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Ken Cockrel Jr. was promoted to mayor from council president. A special election to fill the balance of Kilpatrick''s term will be held in May after the field is trimmed to two candidates Feb. 24."

This is the man who should have been Detroit''s mayor from the start, he has a long record of working for justice, going back to Hayward Brown Mark Bethune, and John Percy Boyd.

Let us hope that his service as mayor is in line with his past service to Detroit, and he can help to rebuild a once proud and prosperous city.

[gotravel1]

Obama''s list of friends are such upstanding citizens,aren''t they! Ayers,who hates America, Wrigh,who hates whites and say "God *** America",Farrahkan,who hates whites and Jews, Dr.Kahlid al-mansour,hater of whites and America,Michael Klonsky,a communist,Prince Alwaleed bin Talal,and the list goes on! Obama,guilt by association and guilt by PARTICIPATION!

[lloydbest1]

Posted by pelosilover at 07:54 PM : Oct 28, 2008

I remember the enthusiasm that KK brought to the office and the hope and energy that a relative youngster brought to a troubled city. When he crashed and burned he took a lot of those hopes with him....
BUT, any association Kwame has or had with Obama has nothing to do with his (Obama''s) ability to administer the country. Kilpatrick fooled a lot of us. In fact "O" conspicuously avoided Mr. K after all that texting hoo-hah brought to light. Obama was not, nor should he be, tarnished by "Kwyme''s" actions.
There is still a lot of mess to clean up in Detroit but Cockrel''s taking over the reins is a good start.

[ajmarine111]

Obama''''s list of friends are such upstanding citizens,aren''''t they! Ayers,who hates America, Wrigh,who hates whites and say "God *** America",Farrahkan,who hates whites and Jews, Dr.Kahlid al-mansour,hater of whites and America,Michael Klonsky,a communist,Prince Alwaleed bin Talal,and the list goes on! Obama,guilt by association and guilt by PARTICIPATION!


Posted by gotravel1 at 08:11 PM : Oct 28, 2008



Just wait until inaguration day, if Obama gets elected, and all his old friends are standing in back of him, smiling and waving.

Should make for an interesting picture.

[mcv57]

If this Mayor had white skin, it would be a different judgment - no jail time. I hope Detroit votes in another black guy from the gangster hood, to let the white local government system know who has the the power.

[mcv57]

Posted by ocguy64

It is obvious to me that you a ignorant white dysfunctional piece of trash. The white angelo saxon system is going to be a barbaric animal life-style of the past.

[ausus-2009]

mcv57,

I am sure Detroit with its large black population has its share of black prosecutors, judges, juries, police, etc. I can''t see a white conspiracy here. Crime is crime, he should do his time.

[republic1776]

"Groner had harsh words for Kilpatrick when he laid down the sentence."

Harsh words?

I bet that hurt him more than the candy-Arse 4 month Sentence!

[peter5548]

It seems that CBS News foregot to mention that Kwame Kilpatrick is a Democrat. Im sure its not their policy to name party affiliation when pols are charged with corruption. They happened to mention that Senetor Stephens is a Repbulican, but that must have been an oversight as well. NO BIAS HERE

[formrusmcsgt]

The man is unfit to be a Boy Scout troop leader, much less the mayor of a major city.

An arrogant liar and cheat.....

[formrusmcsgt]

It seems that CBS News foregot to mention that Kwame Kilpatrick is a Democrat. Im sure its not their policy to name party affiliation when pols are charged with corruption. They happened to mention that Senetor Stephens is a Repbulican, but that must have been an oversight as well. NO BIAS HERE

Posted by Peterd5548 at 11:56 PM : Oct 28, 2008

It seems that being a neocon has dumbed you down more than you realize:


"Kilpatrick, a Democrat, admitted lying while testifying last year in a civil lawsuit filed by former police officers who had accused him of illegally demoting or firing them."

[bbrundj]

Detroit sure didn''t need any more delinquent activity, especially in its city hall. Man, it''s hard.

The four months will give him time to relax a bit,
read a few books, catch up on the latest tv and so
on. Then, fresh from his sabbatical, he will have the
energy and gusto to pursue the next Senate or Congres--sional race that comes along, and no doubt Win.
America loves a guy who can Stick it to the Man,
take a hit and bounce back. Just ask Alcee Hastings.

[xlib]

Don''t see a word on Ma state senator diane wilkerson and being caught stuffing her bra with bribes. Seems she has been taking money in bribes for about 18 months. Guess she was headed home to put the money in the freezer,
Yep, she''s a dem and black so you won''t see it here.

[garys21121]

Hey, A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
www.garyinthemorning.com

[downsteamjim]

To find that Kwame was a Democrat, you had to read to paragraph 16 of a 23 paragraph article. To find that Sen. Stevens was a Republican all you had to do is look at the lead in and in the subtitle. Paragraph 2 indicates Stevens is a Repub and party is mentioned several times in the article.