Judge orders escrow for Kilpatrick's book profits

By Corey Williams Associated Press DETROIT (AP) -- Profits made by imprisoned former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from the sale of his memoirs will be placed in an escrow account with at least a portion applied to an outstanding restitution debt owed to Detroit as part of his plea to criminal charges. Kilpatrick appeared in Wayne County Circuit Court Wednesday but was not required to testify during the county prosecutor's petition involving sales from "Surrendered! The Rise, Fall and Revelation of Kwame Kilpatrick." The 284-page book, co-authored by Khary Turner, has an Aug. 1 release date. Prosecutors said they wanted to make sure money made by Kilpatrick is used to satisfy unpaid restitution, which recently stood at about $861,000. Kilpatrick is serving up to five years in state prison for violating probation in a 2008 criminal case that arose from lies he told on the stand during a 2007 police whistleblowers' trial. Kilpatrick denied a romantic relationship with a top aide. Sexually explicit text messages sent on city-issued pagers contradicted his statements. He eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and no contest to assault and served time in the county jail. Circuit Court Judge David Groner sent Kilpatrick to state prison for not adhering to terms of his probation which called for truthful disclosure of his finances. Prosecutors argued before Groner Wednesday that how much Kilpatrick stands to make from the book's sale remains unclear. The publishing company is accepting online orders at $26.95 per copy. "They are collecting money. There's money in the pot," Assistant Prosecutor Athina Siringas said in court. It has not been determined who will hold the escrow funds, she later told reporters. Siringas added that prosecutors believe Kilpatrick is profiting from the book. "I'm sure he is," she said. "I don't think he would be writing it if he isn't." Turner testified Wednesday that he is married to one of Kilpatrick's cousin and was negotiating profits from the book with a company run by Kilpatrick's sister, Ayanna. Turner said he has not received any money yet from the book's sales. Kilpatrick told The Associated Press in a June telephone interview from prison that "any penny" in personal profit from book sales will go to the city. "Mr. Kilpatrick has always had the intention of paying restitution," defense attorney Daniel Hajji told reporters after Wednesday's hearing. "Even while sitting in prison he continues to want to pay restitution." Published: Fri, Jun 17, 2011