Blagojevich gets another month of freedom

CHICAGO, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A federal judge Tuesday said he would give Rod Blagojevich another month of freedom before the corrupt former Illinois governor must report to prison.

The disgraced politician, sentenced last week to 14 years in prison for his conviction on 18 corruption counts, also asked U.S. District Judge James Zagel to incarcerate him at low-security Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in Littleton, Colo., about 15 miles southwest of Denver.

The Bureau of Prisons will have the final say on where Blagojevich is imprisoned but Zagel said he would recommend the Littleton facility.

Blagojevich, 55, asked Zagel to put off the surrender date until March 15 to give him time to sell his home on Chicago's North Side, the Chicago Tribune reported. Zagel initially ordered Blagojevich to surrender Feb. 16.

Blagojevich is the second Illinois governor to be sentenced to prison in five years and the fourth found guilty of misconduct of the last nine governors.