
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 23, 1993                   TAG: 9304230051
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MONTGOMERY, ALA.                                LENGTH: Short

CONVICTION OUSTS ALABAMA GOVERNOR

The ouster of Republican Gov. Guy Hunt on a felony ethics conviction Thursday thrust Democratic Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom into the governor's office even as Hunt promised a legal battle to regain it.

"We will be fighting to clear this and clear my name," Hunt, a Primitive Baptist preacher, said outside the courtroom. "This is not my battle now. It's the state of Alabama's battle."

Folsom was sworn into office at the Alabama Capitol about five hours after the jury returned its guilty verdict against Hunt. The new governor promised to do "all that's in my power to put this state fully on the path of healing."

The jury convicted Hunt of looting $200,000 from his tax-exempt 1987 inaugural fund, a verdict that by law removes him from office in his second term as Alabama's first GOP governor this century.

Hunt, appearing stunned but dry-eyed, moved through the courtroom hugging weeping supporters after the verdict was announced on the ninth day of the trial.

Circuit Judge Randall Thomas set a May 7 date for sentencing. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Hunt's chief defense attorney, George Beck, said no appeal would be filed before the May 7 proceeding.

Hunt would be restored to office if the verdict is overturned on appeal by January 1995, the scheduled end of his term.

by CNB