Submitted by Fox First at Ten on November 16th
SPOKANE, WASH. - KHQ's Alex Rozier learned Karl Thompson arrived last night at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Seatac Facility. The facility just outside Seattle is mainly for inmates who are still going through trial or those who have just been convicted or sentenced. Thompson will stay at Seatac for about a month as the Federal Bureau of Prisons considers all the factors that need to be taken into account regarding where Thompson will serve the remainder of his sentence.
According to officials with the Federal Bureau of Prisons they will work to find a facility that is appropriate for him, and once they do that they will notify U.S. Marshals and the Marshals will transport him there. The Federal Bureau of Prisons works to place an inmate within 500 miles of their family and support system, but they also take into account the amount of security the individual requires.
Also this morning Karl Thompson's Defense Attorney Carl Oreskovich said that he's working right now on an appeal to the sentence. Oreskovich says that he also plans to file an emergency motion in the 9th circuit seeking review of Judge Van Sickel's decision to detain Karl Thompson immediately. Once the appeal is filed there will be a number of dates set where more paperwork must be submitted, and then there will be a decision. The appeal process could take about a year.
PAID IN PRISON
KHQ has confirmed Karl Thompson will receive his pension in prison. We are working to figure out the amount of money that he will get each month, but according to the Department of Retirement Systems they follow a basic formula (though specific circumstances do exist for certain people):
average salary (times) years of service (times) .02 (equals) the pension received
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SPOKANE Wash. - A year after being convicted of excessive force and lying to investigators in connection to the beating death of Otto Zehm, former Spokane police officer Karl Thompson, 65, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison on Thursday. Originally set for January, sentencing was delayed multiple times due to motions by the Defense.
United States Federal Judge Fred Van Sickel cited factors in the assault and investigation before sentencing Thompson to 51 months in prison. That is roughly half of what Prosecutors asked for.
Thompson's defense team was hoping for no time in prison because of his long career as an officer serving the public. After the sentence was handed down, both sides argued whether or not Thompson should be taken into custody or released pending his appeal.
Judge Van Sickel sided with prosecutors and Thompson was immediately taken into custody by US Marshals. Calling the Judges decision disappointing, Defense Attorney Carl Oreskovich says he plans on appealing the ruling within the next few days.
After the sentencing, Dale Zehm, a cousin of Otto and family spokesperson, spoke to reporters, thanking the Spokane community.
