Oklahoma bombing figure Michael Fortier denied bond during appeal

Thursday, March 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Denver-AP) -- An appeals court in Denver has denied a bid by Michael Fortier to go free on bond. Fortier is appealing his 12-year prison sentence for failing to notify authorities of the Oklahoma City bombing plot.

The Tenth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals said Fortier had not raised a substantial question of law or fact likely to result in a prison sentence less than what he will have served by the time the appeal process is over.

Fortier contends his sentence is the result of a vindictive judge who erred by giving him a punishment well above federal guidelines for involuntary manslaughter.

The judge who originally sentenced Fortier had to do so again after a federal appeals court said he mistakenly used guidelines for first-degree murder.

But the judge handed down an identical 12-year sentence using what's called an "upward departure" that allowed him to sentence
Fortier above the standard sentence of four years, three months for involuntary manslaughter.