Gene Stipe sentencing delayed until August

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The sentencing of former state Senator Gene Stipe for funneling illegal money into a 1998 congressional campaign has been postponed until August. <br><br>U.S. District Judge James

Wednesday, July 2nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The sentencing of former state Senator Gene Stipe for funneling illegal money into a 1998 congressional campaign has been postponed until August.

U.S. District Judge James Robertson rescheduled the sentencing for Aug. 28 at the request of Stipe's attorney.

Stipe was scheduled to be sentenced next week after an earlier delay pushed back the date from June 18.

Stipe pleaded guilty in April to using various schemes to funnel $245,000 in illegal money into the unsuccessful congressional campaign of former state Rep. Walt Roberts.

Roberts, former state Sen. James Lane and Charlene Spears, Stipe's longtime assistant at his McAlester law firm, also entered guilty pleas.

Roberts and Spears are scheduled to be sentenced July 15, followed by Lane on July 29.

Stipe resigned his senate seat in March after more than a half-century in the Oklahoma Legislature.