Former state Rep. Kohring assigned to California prison
Originally published Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 1:10 p.m.
Updated Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 7:41 p.m.
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Stumble It!ANCHORAGE -- A former Alaska lawmaker convicted of corruption charges has been assigned to a prison in California.
Former state Rep. Vic Kohring, a Wasilla Republican, had hoped to serve his 3 1/2-year sentence at a federal prison in Sheridan, Ore. Instead, he said, he's been assigned to a facility in Taft, Calif.
He called that retaliatory and part of ongoing payback in a process he has termed unfair.
"It's a real slap in my face frankly to send me to the desert of southern California," he said. "However, I am not afraid of prison at all, and prison is prison wherever they send me. I am just thinking about the people that love me and people that what to be in touch and be able to see me and that is largely being taken away from me with this current facility, which I think is flat wrong."
Kohring is scheduled to turn himself in at the end of June.
Kohring was convicted in November of accepting at least $2,600 from executives of VECO Corp., an Alaska company with more than 4,000 employees. VECO provided engineering, construction and facility maintenance services to major oil producers. Its officers carried enormous political clout, sponsoring fundraisers and donating to candidates.
VECO CEO Bill Allen and a company vice president, Rick Smith, said they bribed Alaska lawmakers to procure legislation, including a favorable tax rate, that would lead to the construction of a massive natural gas pipeline project delivering North Slope reserves to customers in the Midwest.
At his sentencing in May, Kohring blamed his conviction on prosecutors who twisted his words and a judge with a conflict of interest. He acknowledged that he accepted gifts from Allen, a man he considered a longtime friend.
Kohring is headed to the prison that is about to release former Anchorage lobbyist Bill Bobrick.
Bobrick was sentenced to five months for his role in setting up a sham company with former state Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Anchorage. The company was set up to conceal payments they believed were coming from a private prison firm. Instead, the money was provided by the FBI as part of its investigation into corruption in the Alaska Legislature.
Anderson started a five-year term in December. Bobrick is due to be released this week.
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Awww...I feel SOOOOO sorry that this creates a hardship on him and his family. Unless I am mistaken, prison isn't supposed to be easy. Perhaps he should have thought of that BEFORE abusing the public's trust.
Boo-hoo! I hope his dance card is filled quickly there.
Taft is a Federal Correctional Center that is run by a private prison contractor (MTC). MTC run prisons are know for disturbances, riots, and escapes. Hope he gets the full experience.
Kohring deserves a slap in the face. What an arrogant jerk! Maybe you should have thought about the people who love you before you broke federal laws which then put you where you belong - in prison.
It truly is a shame that this creates a hardship for those who love the "honorable" Vic Kohring. I'm sure they are both very upset.
Mr. Kohring: What part of the Alaska State Constitution did you not understand when you took your oath of office? You violated public trust, you misappropriated public funds, you lied, you cheated, and now you claim you were not treated fairly by the federal court system designed to protect we the people. And it appears you feel that your punishment is unjust because you are being held accountable for your actions, that YOU will suffer as a result? What arrogance!! Since when does a criminal get to choose where he wants to serve out his sentence? In my opinion your prison term is not lengthy enough.
Would you like cheese and crackers to go with that whine?
Quit your whinning and be glad you were'nt sent to a real mens prison
like San Quenton-High Dessert-Corcoran-or Soladad. Just man up and do your bit
of "SHORT TIME" Im sure your people have
the "resources" to come and visit you.
So stop taking up ink and paper with
your complaints!DEAL WITH THE OUTCOME!!
Hey Vic! You forgot something.Like, Mr.& Mrs.Hayes.
I hear the greens on the golf course are not as good at Taft.
For Gods sake you are going to a minimum security facility. How much more could you expect as a criminal?
Send him to tent city in Arizona.
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