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Fantroy Chooses Prison Over Public Apology

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May 26, 2008 9:18 pm US/Central

Fantroy Chooses Prison Over Public Apology

Reporting
Jack Fink

Former Dallas City Council member James Fantroy is going to prison--and it's his choice to do so.

Last week District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Fantroy for embezzlement. After saying the former city councilman was 'unrepentant' and had 'violated the public trust', Judge Kinkeade gave Fantroy a choice between 30 days in prison or making a public apology for his crime.

Fantroy met with his attorney Monday morning to discuss the decision. His attorney acknowledged during trial that Fantroy took money from Paul Quinn College and paid some of it back, but Fantroy has not openly admitted to any wrongdoing

On Monday, Fantroy's lawyer David Pire told CBS 11 News that the ex-councilman had chosen jail time.

Fantroy says he made the decision to go to prison over the weekend and that he knows it will be difficult for the people closest to him. "I only talked to my wife and my minister," Fantroy said. "I talked to a couple of my kids. [I] got their feel, got my wife's feel, and that was it."

During the interview Monday Fantroy said the sentence will start on June 25.  That contradicts what Pire said Monday morning, when he told CBS 11 News the sentence would start on June 27.

In the past Fantroy told CBS 11 News that he is not afraid of prison--but during his sentencing last week Fantroy asked Judge Kinkeade not to send him to jail.

Fantroy suffers from kidney cancer and uses a wheelchair.  He told CBS 11 News that he receives dialysis three times a week.

Fantroy will serve his time at a federal medical facility that is capable of treating his condition. The judge said if it weren't for his cancer Fantroy would have been sentenced to a much longer prison sentence.

In February a jury convicted Fantroy of embezzling money from a Paul Quinn College Community Development Fund. Monday Fantroy was sentenced to 30 days in prison, 180 days of home confinement and ordered to pay $17,938 restitution.

"I have not complained about no decision that's been made, and I hope I'm respected in the same way," the former city councilman told CBS 11 News Monday afternoon.

Pire says Fantroy will appeal the conviction.

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