Posted on 04/16/2002 11:53:30 PM PDT by glorygirl
A Tulsa attorney was paid $51,057 to appeal Michael Fortier's punishment for crimes tied to the Oklahoma City bombing. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday disclosed the total paid to Michael McGuire for two appeals. Taxpayers picked up the cost for the court- appointed attorney.
Fortier, 33, was a close friend of bomber Timothy McVeigh.
He admitted he knew about McVeigh's plans but never warned anyone. He also admitted that he helped McVeigh move and sell stolen guns and that he lied to FBI agents after the April 19, 1995, attack.
Fortier pleaded guilty but was not sentenced until after he testified against McVeigh and co-conspirator Terry Nichols at their separate federal trials.
He appealed his punishment and won a resentencing. At the resentencing, U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Van Bebber imposed the same prison time, 12 years, but reduced the fine from $200,000 to $75,000.
Fortier appealed again but lost.
The federal appeals court in Denver made the disclosure in response to a request from The Oklahoman.
McGuire told the appeals court he did not object to disclosure of the total. He did ask that his time sheets not be released because "it would jeopardize the safety and location of Michael Fortier."
Fortier is being held in a secret location by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Still undisclosed is how much McGuire was paid before the first sentencing.
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