The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied former Biloxi attorney Paul Minor’s request for release from prison pending appeal of his judicial bribery conviction.
Minor told the court he believes his conviction will be overturned and he will win release, but that might come too late for him to be with his wife, who has cancer.
The court denied his motion, saying, “Minor has failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that he is not likely to pose a danger to the safety of the community if released.”
Minor was imprisoned before his 2007 conviction because he violated the terms of pre-trial release when he drank alcohol to excess. U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate, who presided over the trial, found Minor a potential danger to the community.
Minor, ordered to complete an alcohol treatment program, said he has been sober since April 2006.
Minor was sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribing former state court judges Wes Teel and John Whitfield, who were tried and convicted with him. At most, Minor argues, he should have been convicted of offering the judges gratuities rather than bribes because prosectors (sic) failed to show he expected specific favors in exchange for loans he guaranteed and repaid for the judges.
Sun Herald
8/18/8
Magnolia Tribune
