Judge orders ex-Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick back to court for arraignment on probation violation

Judge orders ex-Detroit mayor back to court

DETROIT — A judge has ruled that former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick must return to court Friday to be arraigned on a probation violation warrant.

The judge said Tuesday that a warrant will soon be issued for Kilpatrick. He ordered Kilpatrick to appear in his courtroom for failing to make a required $79,000 restitution payment. The former mayor could face jail or prison as a consequence.

Kilpatrick owes $1 million as part of his guilty plea to obstruction of justice in 2008. He’s been making monthly payments, but the judge ordered the $79,000 payment due Friday and one for $240,000 due in April after finding Kilpatrick wasn’t honest about his finances.

Defense attorneys say that to prove Kilpatrick violated probation, prosecutors must show he could have paid the $79,000.