Kwame Kilpatrick Wants Out of Prison, Cites Lack of Ice, Rehab for Knee

Disgraced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is again asking for his release from federal prison citing a new a list of gripes, claiming he's not getting enough ice to put on his bad knee, nor the physical therapy and exercise needed to recover, according to The Detroit News.

Kilpatrick, 43, wants to be released on bond pending sentencing in the City Hall corruption case. He was found guilty March 11 of 24 charges that included racketeering, fraud, and extortion after a five-month public corruption trial against him, his father, and a city contractor. He's expected to be sentenced this fall, and could spend 20 to 30 years in jail.

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Kilpatrick's lawyer, Harold Gurewitz, made the new request to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds has repeatedly denied his requests, determining that he's a potential flight risk, so Gurewitz is trying to appeal through federal appeals court.

"Milan does not have either physical therapy facilities, or medical facilities, or equipment necessary for Mr. Kilpatrick's continuing medical care," Gurewitz wrote in paperwork filed with the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. "Mr. Kilpatrick's need to obtain and to continue proper treatment for his knee surgery are reasons that he is not a flight risk."

Twice a week, Kilpatrick receives a U.S. Marshals Service escort for 90-minute private physical therapy sessions outside prison that are sometimes cut short, according to the Lansing State Journal. He claims the prison doesn't have ice to rehabilitate the knee or exercise equipment once he returns.

Prosecutors want Kilpatrick behind bars, arguing that he has the financial resources to fund an escape. Knowing that he's facing up to 30 years in prison gives him incentive to flee, prosecutors say.

Kilpatrick claims he can't run because of his knee injury, which allegedly occurred when he was traveling to prison after the guilty verdict. He had surgery earlier this month.

Not surprisingly, Internet users didn't feel sorry for the convicted criminal.

"I feel bad for the guy," commented Robert W. Muszynski on the Detroit News article. "I'm sending him a five-pound bag of ice, two-day delivery UPS."

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