Kilpatrick pleads guilty, resigns

DETROIT, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Thursday pleaded guilty to obstruction and perjury charges, forcing him out of office.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to two felony counts, will serve 120 days in jail and pay as much as $1 million in restitution. He also will be required to serve five years probation and agreed not to seek political office during that time.

The deal apparently was reached late Wednesday after prosecutors reduced the proposed jail time by two months, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Kilpatrick initially had been charged with eight counts stemming from a whistle-blower case that cost the city $8.4 million and text messages between himself and a lover who was also on the city payroll.

Kilpatrick good-naturedly jousted with reporters before court was called into session, the Free Press reported.

The plea came as Gov. Jennifer Granholm was organizing hearings on whether to remove Kilpatrick from office.