Judge OKs Sending Black to Prison at Butner

Raleigh, N.C. — A federal judge has approved a request by former House Speaker Jim Black to serve his sentence for a public corruption conviction at the federal prison in Butner.

U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle ordered Black to report to prison by next Monday, but the 72-year-old Mecklenburg County Democrat has asked to delay reporting until Sept. 10 so he could go to some medical appointments and be sentenced on state charges.

Black was sentenced two weeks ago to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal charge of accepting an illegal gratuity. He admitted accepting more than $25,000 in cash from chiropractors over several years while backing legislation favorable to the industry in the state House.

Black is scheduled to be sentenced on state bribery and obstruction of justice charges next Tuesday. Federal prosecutors said in court papers filed Wednesday that the sentencing would be delayed if Black is required to report to prison on Monday as initially ordered.

Boyle hasn't yet ruled on Black's request for a delay.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has the final say in determining where Black will serve his sentence.

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Latest Comments

told you guys he wasnt going to Butner...

iwihaiowtu
July 26, 2007 5:28 p.m.

Yes, I did vote for Bush. Don't get me wrong, I am not happy with him (as most conservatives are), but he isn't a KNOWN criminal.

And please don't bring up the war in Iraq makes him a criminal. He saw the same intelligence as everyone who in congress who voted to go to war. Kerry voted, Hillary voted.. blah blah blah.

I'm sorry if the anti-war crowd doesn't understand that a statement is a lie only if you know it to be false when you make it. Just because a statement turns out to be false does not make it a lie.

But... since you mentioned "conservatives"... Yes..I vote conservative, well, supposedly because they are for smaller government (although that doesn't quite seem true now), and more frugal spending (again, not quite true anymore).

I understand that there are both conservative AND liberal criminals in politics, but the point was, Black IS a criminal and he is a KNOWN criminal, and he's still voted back into office.

dlb800
July 26, 2007 9:15 a.m.

Adios- Au revoir- C-ya!

RIP- Yogi Bear
July 26, 2007 9:13 a.m.

dlb800:

I am guessing that you voted for "conservatives" like Bush; and I bet you are enjoying with them some of this country's proudest moments.

d1_standing
July 26, 2007 2:00 a.m.

I am suprised that anyone and I mean anyone gets to delay the time that they have to spend in a prison sentence. Does everyone else have the same right?