Scrushy Makes Another Prison Release Request

By BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer
Published: May 10, 2008

MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy filed another motion Friday asking a federal appeals court to release him from prison while his conviction is being appealed.

Scrushy’s attorney, Art Leach, said Friday that 10 Alabama residents or couples have agreed to put their homes up as bond to insure that Scrushy would not try to flee while out of prison. In earlier motions to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Scrushy offered his homes in Birmingham and on Lake Martin and other property as bond.

The court rejected the earlier motions, citing a ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller that called Scrushy a flight risk. Fuller called Scrushy a flight risk because of a yacht trip he took with his family from Palm Beach, Fla. to Miami when he had court permission for a trip to Disney World.

“Ten individuals or couples, both family and friends, believe so deeply in Mr. Scrushy’s character that they have offered their family homes as additional security to secure Mr. Scrushy’s release pending appeal,” Leach said.

Scrushy and former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman were convicted in 2006 of bribery and other charges in a government corruption case. Siegelman was sentenced to more than seven years in prison and is currently out of prison on an appeal bond. Scrushy is serving an almost seven-year sentence at a federal prison in Beaumont, Texas.

In the motion Friday, Scrushy cited from the 11th Circuit ruling that released Siegelman on an appeal bond. In that ruling the appellate judges said they found there were substantial questions being raised in the appeals process.

Also Friday, Fuller unsealed the file concerning the conditions of Scrushy’s bond when he was out of prison between his June 2006 conviction and his June 2007 sentencing. The file showed Scrushy’s bond at the time was $1 million and he was ordered to surrender all weapons and his passport. He was also restricted from traveling outside northern or central Alabama.