- NEW YORK (Reuters)
- Martha Stewart thanked her supporters on Monday in her first comments
in person since being convicted in federal court last week of lying about
a suspicious stock trade.
-
- Stewart made brief remarks outside the courthouse where
she was convicted on Friday after meeting with the probation officials
who will suggest a prison term range to the judge who will sentence the
celebrity homemaker.
-
- After the parole session, which lasted about 90 minutes,
Stewart thanked her supporters as she sat in a gray SUV before it pulled
away from the curb near the Manhattan courthouse.
-
- "I want to thank my readers, my viewers and the
Internet users," Stewart told a throng of reporters who surrounded
the vehicle. "I just want to thank everyone for their support."
-
- Stewart, 62, wearing a black coat and toting a black
umbrella to fend off wet snow, had reported to the probation department
at about 10:30 a.m. and left about noon.
-
- Her lawyer, Robert Morvillo, would not say if they were
next headed to a session with the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Inc., the company she founded. Published reports said the board was meeting
on Monday and was expected to consider Stewart's future role in the company.
-
- Stewart was found guilty of one count of conspiracy,
two counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction of agency
proceedings. The eight women and four men on the jury returned their verdict
on the third day of deliberations.
-
- Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. Prior
to that date, the probation department will submit a report to U.S. District
Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum that will suggest a sentencing range based
on federal guidelines. The report may also contain recommendations on fines.
-
- The guidelines take into account such factors as the
defendant's offense level, any other criminal record, and financial status.
-
- Although each of the four counts against Stewart carries
a possible prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine, legal experts
believe the sentencing guidelines will suggest a range of less than 18
months.
-
- Her lawyers can also ask the judge for a lesser sentence
than called for in the guidelines.
-
- Stewart was found guilty of conspiring with her former
Merrill Lynch stock broker, Peter Bacanovic, for hiding the reason behind
her Dec. 27, 2001, sale of shares in the biotech company ImClone Systems
Inc. .
-
- Bacanovic, who was also found guilty for his role in
the scheme, was accused of ordering his assistant to tip off Stewart that
ImClone's founder, Sam Waksal, was dumping all of his shares.
-
- The stock broker also met with the probation department
on Monday.
-
- Lawyers for both Stewart and Bacanovic said they would
appeal the convictions.
-
- © Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
|
