Ebbers to Appear in Oklahoma Court Next Week

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Former WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernard Ebbers is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday on criminal charges filed by the Oklahoma attorney general. <br><br>Attorney

Thursday, August 28th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Former WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernard Ebbers is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday on criminal charges filed by the Oklahoma attorney general.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson has charged Ebbers, five other former executives of WorldCom _ now known as MCI _ and the company itself with defrauding Oklahoma investors before the company's $11 billion accounting scandal broke last year, plunging it into bankruptcy.

The charges carry up to 10 years in prison.

Edmondson spokesman Charlie Price said prosecutors and defense attorneys for Ebbers agreed to the court date.

Ebbers attorney Reid H. Weingarten did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Weingarten has said state prosecutors failed to outline any specific acts that would justify the charges against Ebbers.

The five other former executives charged in Oklahoma have already been hit with federal charges, and four have pleaded guilty.