Judge Sentences Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to 5 Years in Prison

Judge Sentences Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to 5 Years in Prison

Published May 25, 2010

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to up to five years in prison Tuesday for violating the terms of his probation on an obstruction of justice conviction.

Kilpatrick, 39, asked Judge David Groner to show him compassion during the hearing, but Groner said "that ship has sailed."

Groner said Kilpatrick would have to serve at least 1 1/2 years in prison, but that he would be credited for 120 days of time served from his original sentence. He is still obligated to pay back the remaining balance of his $1 million debt to the city of Detroit.

Kilpatrick, the father of three young sons, was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Groner ruled last month that Kilpatrick failed to report all of his assets and meet other conditions of his probation. In court Tuesday, Groner scolded Kilpatrick for his continued lack of candor about his finances.

"Your continued attempt to cast yourself as the victim, your lack of forthrightness, your lack of contriteness and lack of humility ... clearly rehabilitation has failed," Groner told Kilpatrick after the former mayor spent about 15 minutes explaining why he should be allowed to return to his family in Dallas.

After Groner announced the sentence, a loud, collective gasp rose from many of Kilpatrick's supporters in the packed courtroom. Kilpatrick appeared shaken.

At issue is $1 million in restitution Kilpatrick owes the city after pleading guilty in 2008 to obstruction of justice. Sexually explicit text messages showed Kilpatrick, a Democrat, had lied under oath about an affair with a staff member.

State Corrections officials suggested Kilpatrick should spend less than a year in county jail. Defense attorneys wanted no jail time, saying it would hamper Kilpatrick's ability to pay the money he still owes. But prosecutors said two to five years in state prison would be appropriate.

After he was released from jail in February 2009, Kilpatrick found a job as a medical software salesman with Dallas-based Covisint. Since then, he has said he is working on his marriage and trying to be a better father to his three sons. He also has been making $3,000 monthly payments to the city of Detroit, saying he hopes to repay everything he owes.

He bloody well better! Every last cent plus interest. I suppose now the accusations of racism will begin. Racism my eye! Quite the opposite if you ask me. If he were White, he'd spend twice as much time in the pokey. The court went easy on him because he is Black, and no one wanted to be accused of racism. That's how non-Whites work. When all else fails, play the race card.