Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick sentenced to 5 years in prison for violating probation

Ex-Detroit mayor sentenced to 5 years in prison

DETROIT — A judge has sentenced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to from one-and-a-half to five years in prison for violating the terms of his probation on an obstruction of justice conviction.

Kilpatrick asked Judge David Groner (GRO-ner) to show him compassion during the Tuesday hearing. But Groner said “that ship has sailed.”

Kilpatrick was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Groner ruled last month that the 39-year-old Kilpatrick failed to report all of his assets and meet other conditions of his probation.

Kilpatrick was ordered to pay the city $1 million after pleading guilty in 2008 to obstruction of justice. Sexually explicit text messages showed Kilpatrick lied under oath about an affair with a staffer.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has apologized in court for violating the terms of his probation.

Kilpatrick asked Judge David Groner to show him compassion during the Tuesday hearing. The former mayor says he is doing everything he can to pay his $1 million debt to the city.

Groner ruled last month that Kilpatrick failed to report all of his assets and meet other conditions of his probation.

Kilpatrick was ordered to pay the money to the city after pleading guilty in 2008 to obstruction of justice. Sexually explicit text messages showed Kilpatrick had lied under oath about an affair with a staff member.

Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of two to five years in prison for the 39-year-old Kilpatrick.