Former Wasilla lawmaker, Vic Kohring, says he's appealing the three and a half year sentence a federal judge handed him Thursday. Kohring was convicted back in November of selling his legislative vote to VECO in exchange for Legislative favors.

Kohring says the reason he was convicted is because he feels he did not get a fair trial. He says the judge has a bias against him, because he was responsible for firing the judge's wife. He says the judge should have recused himself from the case.

"That judge had an obligation to tell us of those things. That was wrong. And he'll be reversed. Period," said Kohring.

Moments after Kohring's three and a half year sentence, the defense told reporters that Kohring will appeal, saying the judge's bias is why Kohring was convicted.

"The result of payback against me because I had a very serious situation with his wife when I was in the Legislature. I eliminated her job," said Kohring.

It is the same thing Kohring said directly to the judge as he made his courtroom statement.

"I did nothing wrong. And I want you to know as I go to prison, and as I fight this thing from a prison cell, I do so with a clear conscience. And that's what's going to get me though this," said Kohring.

But the judge has said there was never a reason for him to recuse himself, saying secret FBI tapes proved Kohring, "sold the public trust by participating in a VECO financial relationship."

Prosecutors said the same thing, mocking Kohring's attorney's analogy that his client was like the TV character Andy Griffith and always wanted to help folks--and that the money Kohring took was nothing more then a gift from a friend.

U.S. Attorney Joe Bottini said, "I don't remember any episode of that show where Andy Griffith took money."

Prosecutor Edward Sullivan added, "That one act alone says it all about his character and the level of corruption in the 2006 Legislature."

"I want to be clear that I'm not

apologizing to any wrongdoing. I'm apologizing for not conducting myself in a high ethical standards that I've always espoused. I should've not taken gifts, even though they were from longtime friends. Even though they were not bribes, it did not look good, of course," said Kohring.

Kohring says this trial has ruined his life. He's a half million dollars in debt; his wife is divorcing him and he's lost his job.

Kohring was not taken into custody Thursday. He will report for his sentence on his own, even though the judge joked that might be an issue since Kohring had to hitchhike to court Thursday because the truck he had borrowed broke down.

Kohring doesn't have to report to prison until the end of June. It may seem unbelievable, but Kohring's attorney, John Henry Brown, actually told the court he was at fault in a car accident. Kohring was his passenger and now he needs surgery. The judge says this will give him time to have it.

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Kohring marks the seventh criminal conviction in this ongoing political corruption probe.

In December 2006, former Anchorage Representative Tom Anderson was indicted for money laundering, extortion and bribery.

Five months later Kohring, along with former House Speaker Pete Kott and former Juneau Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, was indicted on conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery.

Three days later, former VECO CEO Bill Allen and Vice President Rick Smith pled guilty to bribing a series of lawmakers.

On May 16, 2007 former Muni lobbyist Bill Bobrick pled guilty to bribing Anderson.

In July 2007, Anderson was convicted on seven counts and began serving his five-year sentence in December.

By September, Weyhrauch's trial was delayed, while Kott's began. Later that month Kott was convicted.

Kohring was convicted back in November. Thursday he was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison.

To contact Matthew, call 907-273-3186.