
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994                   TAG: 9407140084
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTLAND, ORE.                                 LENGTH: Short

GILLOOLY GETS 2 YEARS FOR ROLE IN KERRIGAN ATTACK

Despite a prosecutor's plea for leniency, a judge sentenced Tonya Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, to two years in prison Wednesday for his role in the attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan.

Circuit Judge Donald Londer told Gillooly his actions were a blot on Portland's reputation that would linger long after his name was forgotten.

``All that will be remembered is that a band of thugs tried to rig a national sporting event,'' he said.

District Attorney Michael Schrunk had asked the judge to sentence Gillooly to a year in prison because of his extraordinary cooperation with investigators.

Gillooly was the first of four co-conspirators to make a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to racketeering on Feb. 1 in exchange for two years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The judge accepted the plea but put off sentencing.

The judge said Gillooly was the ``primary moving force'' in the Jan. 6 clubbing of Kerrigan at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship finals in Detroit.

Gillooly told authorities the plot to attack Kerrigan was hatched to clear the way for Harding to win the U.S. championship and then make the U.S. Olympic team.

Gillooly told the judge he wanted to apologize publicly to Kerrigan. ``I realize, of course, that an apology coming from me rings hollow, but I was sorry after the act and I am sorry now,'' he said.

by CNB