Judge could set Blagojevich sentencing date

[August 01, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge may be ready to set a sentencing date for impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

If the judge does so during a Monday status hearing, that'd give Blagojevich and his family a clearer idea of when he'd start serving time.

Legal observers say Judge James Zagel's likely to imprison Blagojevich for around 10 years for a lone conviction at his first trial and convictions on 17 corruption counts at his retrial.

The retrial convictions in June included trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat.

It wasn't immediately clear if Blagojevich must attend Monday's hearing.

The 54-year-old did appear last month to sign papers putting up his home and another property as collateral for a $450,000 bond that lets him remain free while awaiting sentencing.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.