A federal judge ordered Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to jail Thursday for violating the terms of his bond in his perjury case, a decision the judge said he would have made for any "John Six-Pack" defendant before him.The mayor made an unauthorized trip to Canada last month, leading the county prosecutor's office to request Kilpatrick be punished and triggering the judge's ruling.
Only minutes earlier, the mayor offered an apology to the court, telling Giles that for seven months, "I've been living in an incredible state of pressure and scrutiny."
But Giles sent the mayor to jail anyway, telling him he would have given any defendant the same treatment.
"What matters to me though is how the court overall is perceived and how if it was not Kwame Kilpatrick sitting in that seat, if it was John Six-Pack sitting in that seat, what would I do? And that answer is simple," he said.
Kilpatrick's attorneys immediately headed across town to circuit court where they intended to ask a judge there to release their client on appeal.
"The judge did what he thought was right. We don't agree," said defense lawyer James Thomas
Earlier Thursday, Kilpatrick waived his right to a preliminary examination and will head to trial on perjury and other criminal charges that could land him in prison for up to 15 years.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been ordered to the county jail after a judge found the mayor violated the terms of his bond by going to Canada and not informing the court.
The ruling by Judge Ronald Giles came after the mayor apologized to the court, saying it won't happen again.
The judge says he would have given the same treatment to any criminal defendant.
Kilpatrick's attorneys say they immediately will appeal the ruling.
Earlier Thursday, Kilpatrick waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will head to trial on perjury and other criminal charges.
He has denied the charges.
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