Detroit — Taxpayers will soon learn how much it cost to defend ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his father, Bernard, in the City Hall corruption case, and experts believe the price tag could top $1 million.
A federal judge Friday said she plans on releasing costs for a stable of court-appointed lawyers, experts and investigators after Kilpatrick is sentenced in about four months.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds will give defense lawyers a chance to object before releasing the figures, which The News previously reported could exceed $1 million.
Also Friday, prosecutors urged Edmunds to deny Kilpatrick's bid to be released from a federal prison in Milan on bond until he is sentenced on corruption charges.
Kilpatrick, 42, wants to be released and travel to Texas to visit his wife and three sons. His mother, former Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick offered her home as collateral to ensure her son complies with bond conditions and returns for an as-yet unscheduled sentencing date.
Prosecutors said local court rules prohibit using property as collateral.
"It is noteworthy that the property offered by defendant is not owned by him," prosecutors wrote in a filing Friday. "Instead, it belongs to his mother. As the Court is aware from the government's proffer during the detention hearing, defendant has demonstrated repeatedly that he has accepted money from business leaders and family members, while at the same time lying to and misleading the courts about his assets and ignoring the direction of his probation and parole officers to report income and gifts."
Kilpatrick and his father, Bernard, had six court-appointed lawyers. Former Detroit Water boss Victor Mercado, who struck a plea deal weeks into the trial, had two.
Taxpayers also footed the bill for at least one jury consultant.
A jury found Kwame Kilpatrick and contractor Bobby Ferguson guilty of racketeering charges this month and both men face 20 years or more in federal prison.
Bernard Kilpatrick was found guilty of a single tax charge and faces up to three years in prison.
The trial lasted five months and followed a years-long investigation.
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