Delay refused in Pitino extortion case

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- A woman convicted of trying to extort money from University of Louisville basketball Coach Rick Pitino will not have her sentencing delayed, judges ruled.

Karen Cunagin Sypher had petitioned to have a federal judge removed from her case and have her sentencing, scheduled for Friday, delayed, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported Tuesday.

Sypher was convicted of attempting to extort money and other items from Pitino in exchange for her silence on allegations that Pitino raped her in 2003, allegations the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney concluded were groundless.

A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Sypher failed to demonstrate "extraordinary" reasons required to disqualify a judge and that the issues raised must await any appeal of her criminal conviction.

The panel said U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson had considered all the issues Sypher presented in seeking his removal and resolved them in a "thorough" opinion that "is likely to be upheld on appeal."

Sypher's attorney had filed numerous pleadings accusing Simpson of conflicts of interest and alleging that he and prosecutors had conspired to protect Pitino.

Sypher will face sentencing Friday on her convictions of extortion, retaliating against a witness and lying to the FBI, the Courier-Journal reported.