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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Prosecutors and defense lawyers told a federal judge Wednesday that former Olympic champion Marion Jones should not be sentenced to more than the six-month maximum they've already agreed upon.
U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia and defense attorney Henry DePippo told Judge Kenneth Karas that legal precedent argues against departing from the 0-6 month range for Jones, who is to be sentenced Friday in White Plains for lying about steroid use and a check-fraud scheme.
Garcia said the six-month maximum should apply "not simply because it is consistent with the sentencing guidelines but because it is a reasonable sentence."
DePippo argued — again — that Jones should be let off with no prison time.
Karas suggested last week that he might impose a sentence of more than six months and asked lawyers for Jones and the government to advise him by Wednesday on whether he could.
Karas had asked if he could sentence Jones separately for her two guilty pleas and force her to serve the two prison terms one after the other.
Both sides responded that even if the two crimes were considered separately for sentencing purposes, a range of zero-to-six months would apply under federal sentencing guidelines.
Both also reminded the judge that Jones had saved prosecutors in New York and California time and resources by agreeing to plead guilty to both crimes in one proceeding. The steroid case was based in California.
Jones pleaded guilty in October to the two crimes. She has asked the judge to let her off with probation, saying she has suffered enough with her fall from grace and her loss of five Olympic medals.
DePippo also suggested that adding home detention as a condition of probation would be a proper substitute for imprisonment, especially since Jones, 31, has two young sons.
U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia and defense attorney Henry DePippo told Judge Kenneth Karas that legal precedent argues against departing from the 0-6 month range for Jones, who is to be sentenced Friday in White Plains for lying about steroid use and a check-fraud scheme.
Garcia said the six-month maximum should apply "not simply because it is consistent with the sentencing guidelines but because it is a reasonable sentence."
DePippo argued — again — that Jones should be let off with no prison time.
Karas suggested last week that he might impose a sentence of more than six months and asked lawyers for Jones and the government to advise him by Wednesday on whether he could.
Karas had asked if he could sentence Jones separately for her two guilty pleas and force her to serve the two prison terms one after the other.
Both sides responded that even if the two crimes were considered separately for sentencing purposes, a range of zero-to-six months would apply under federal sentencing guidelines.
Both also reminded the judge that Jones had saved prosecutors in New York and California time and resources by agreeing to plead guilty to both crimes in one proceeding. The steroid case was based in California.
Jones pleaded guilty in October to the two crimes. She has asked the judge to let her off with probation, saying she has suffered enough with her fall from grace and her loss of five Olympic medals.
DePippo also suggested that adding home detention as a condition of probation would be a proper substitute for imprisonment, especially since Jones, 31, has two young sons.