Ex-Detroit mayor jailed for covering assets

DETROIT - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to up to five years in prison yesterday for violating the terms of his probation stemming from his conviction for lying under oath about an affair with his chief of staff.

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

Kilpatrick was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

At issue is $1 million Kilpatrick was ordered to pay the city after pleading guilty in 2008 to obstruction of justice. Groner ruled last month that Kilpatrick failed to report all of his assets and meet other conditions of his probation.

Yesterday he ordered Kilpatrick to serve at least 1 1/2 years in prison, but credited him with 120 days of time served from his original sentence. Kilpatrick is still obliged to repay the remaining balance of his debt to the city, but to do that he'll have to find a new job after he's freed. After sentencing, he was fired from his job as a medical software salesman for Covisint, in Dallas..

Groner scolded Kilpatrick. "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," he said.