McNabb in the News (9/15/06) 2

Senior Principal Douglas McNabb has been quoted in an article in northwest Arkansas’ Morning News, about Tom Coughlin.

[US Attorney Bob] Balfe’s office wouldn’t comment on the appeal, but Douglas McNabb, an … attorney who has handled several criminal defense cases in his 20-year career, said the government basically is asking the Eighth Circuit Court to review Dawson’s decision and impose a prison sentence instead.

“What the government is going to have to argue on appeal is that (Judge Dawson) erred ... that he abused his discretion (in sentencing Coughlin). That’s going to be pretty difficult to show because the Court of Appeals does give the trial judge a significant amount of discretion. I just think the government is being mean-spirited,” McNabb said.

…

McNabb said it was doubtful the government would ask the court to stay Coughlin’s home detention while the case is on appeal.

“It’s better than (Coughlin) just walking around. Home detention is confinement,” McNabb said.^[1]

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[1] Anita French, Coughlin to Serve Home Detention During Appeal, Morning News, Sep. 15, 2006.