Black behind bars, not yet in prison
Published: Tue, Jul. 31, 2007 12:00AM
Modified Tue, Jul. 31, 2007 05:16AM
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closeRALEIGH -- Former House Speaker Jim Black spent his first night behind bars Monday in a one-person holding cell in the Wake County jail.
Black, beginning a federal prison term for public corruption, has a hearing scheduled today in Wake Superior Court to be sentenced on two other corruption charges. Jail spokeswoman Phyllis Stephens said holding cells are reserved for people staying only overnight.
"He'll be treated like anyone else," Stephens said.
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Black, 72, arrived at the jail at 2:20 p.m. Monday in a black van. U.S. marshals surrounded him as he got out in handcuffs connected to a chain around his waist. Three men escorted him inside.
Earlier, Black had surrendered to marshals at the Terry Sanford Federal Building.
Asked whether he was prepared for prison, Black replied, "I'm prepared for about anything."
Black, a Matthews Democrat, pleaded guilty in February to accepting illegal payments from chiropractors. He was ordered to serve five years and three months at a Lewisburg, Pa., prison camp.
One of his lawyers, Jack Knight of Charlotte, said he did not know when Black will be sent to Lewisburg.
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