Kott appeals federal conviction, sentence

JUNEAU - Former Alaska House Speaker Pete Kott has appealed both his conviction and six-year sentence on federal corruption charges.

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Kott also has asked the court to remain free until his appeal is heard by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, his attorney, James Wendt, said Wednesday.

Kott was found guilty of conspiracy, bribery, and extortion in September, and was sentenced earlier this month. He hasn't been assigned a federal prison or a date to turn himself in, Wendt said.

It could take up to 18 months for the federal appeals court to hear Kott's case. Until then, Wendt said he would like for Kott to be able to stay out of prison.

"If he goes to jail and wins an appeal, he will have done all that time in jail potentially for nothing," said Wendt, who has recommended Kott hire an attorney specializing in appeals to further handle the case.

Calls to the Justice Department seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Kott is one of three former lawmakers found guilty this year of bribery.

In two of those cases, both lawmakers - including Kott - were bribed by executives of the oil field services company, VECO Corp., who tried to influence passage of an oil tax favorable to the oil industry. The tax was passed, but lawmakers returned to Juneau last month and revised the rate.

At Kott's sentencing earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick assigned a prison term beyond sentencing guidelines after concluding that Kott had committed perjury during his trial.

Sedwick also said the legislation Kott took bribes to influence - a revised tax law on Alaska's principal industry, crude oil extraction - affected every Alaskan.

Kott was fined $10,000 along with the prison sentence. He could have received 35 years on the three charges.