ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603130071
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
WASHINGTON - Dodging a possible jail sentence, James Watt, interior secretary in the Reagan administration, was sentenced Tuesday to five years probation, a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service for withholding documents from a federal grand jury investigating a Housing and Urban Development Department scandal.
After a five-year investigation by independent counsel Arlin Adams, Watt pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count in January, sidestepping 18 felony charges of perjury and of making false statements.
Saying he ``would not wish this experience on my worst enemy,'' Watt acknowledged in a brief statement that he had ``made a serious mistake'' during the investigation by failing to take the proceedings as seriously as he should have.
Watt had been accused of using his political connections to help clients secure millions of dollars in low-income housing funds.
- Los Angeles Times
Musher from Calif. wins Iditarod again
NOME, Alaska - Jeff King won his second Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, coasting into this historic Gold Rush community to the sounds of sirens and hundreds of cheering spectators.
King, a former Northern Californian who learned to mush as a ranger at Denali National Park and Preserve, finished the 1,151-mile mushing marathon with a time of nine days, five hours and 43 minutes.
Only defending champion Doug Swingley of Simms, Mont., has done better in the Iditarod's 24-year history, winning in nine days, two hours and 42 minutes. Swingley was running second this year, more than two hours behind.
King, 39, will take home the $50,000 winner's share of the $300,000 purse and a $30,000 pickup truck.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 43 linesby CNB