Ex-Detroit mayor's probation violations

DETROIT, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, the city's only mayor charged with felonies while in office, will explain why he violated probation, a prosecutor said.

Kilpatrick, who resigned a year ago after his conviction on political corruption charges, failed to meet numerous terms of his probation and possibly misled the court by not fully disclosing his finances, a motion filed by prosecutor Kym Worthy alleges.

Worthy claims Kilpatrick also improperly cut his monthly restitution payment to $3,000 from $6,000 last week without the court's permission.

Kilpatrick, who moved to Southlake, Texas, where he works for an arm of Compuware Corp., owes $1 million in restitution.

"It is clear the defendant has willfully violated the terms and conditions of the court's orders," Worthy contends.

Worthy asked the court to increase Kilpatrick's restitution payments, "as will be reflected by his ability to pay once the court has an accurate understanding of the defendant's finances."

Kilpatrick is expected to attend an evidentiary hearing Oct. 28 before Judge David Groner of Wayne County Circuit Court, the prosecutor's office said.

Judges have great latitude in handling felony probation violators, ranging from accepting an explanation, modifying the terms or even jailing a violator, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Charges to which Kilpatrick pleaded guilty last year still carry a potential prison sentence of up to five years, the newspaper said.

Kilpatrick's lawyer, Michael Alan Schwartz, could not be immediately reached for comment.