Martha Stewart Sentenced To 5 Months In Prison
Speaking outside the New York courthouse where she was sentenced Friday, Stewart said she regretted that what she called a personal matter mushroomed in a way that hurt her employees and their families.
Stewart thanked those who supported her and corresponded with her -- and urged them to keep showing support by buying her products and subscribing to her magazine.
She said her legal troubles shouldn't have "any effect whatsoever" on her company.
"I'll be back," she promised. "I'm not afraid. Not afraid whatsoever. I'm very sorry it had to come to this."
U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum also sentenced the celebrity homemaker to two years of supervisory probation and a $30,000 fine.
The judge granted Stewart's request that her prison time be delayed until after the appeal of her conviction is heard.
Stewart faced as much as 16 months behind bars.
Just before her sentence was pronounced, Stewart asked the judge to "remember all the good I have done."
"Today is a shameful today. It's shameful for me, for my family and for my company," she said.
Supporters greeted Stewart as she arrived at a federal courthouse in New York for her sentencing.
They applauded, and one shouted, "Hold your head high, Martha!"
Stewart, wearing a black pantsuit, showed no emotion as she strode briskly through a media horde.
Stewart Appeals Conviction
But the sentence doesn't end the case.
Stewart is seeking a new trial because of the perjury charges lodged against a government witness.
Last week, Cedarbaum turned her down, saying there was "no reasonable likelihood" that the allegedly perjured testimony could have affected the jury's verdict.
In advance of Friday's sentencing, there was a letter-writing campaign to Cedarbaum on Stewart's behalf.
More than 1,000 letter writers urged the judge to sentence Stewart to no more than community service.
On a Web site dedicated to keeping Stewart out of prison, her fans are also circulating a petition asking President Bush to pardon the famous homemaker.
Stewart and her former Merrill Lynch stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, were convicted of lying to the government about why Stewart sold shares of ImClone Systems stock in late 2001, just before the price plunged.
Bacanovic is being sentenced separately Friday afternoon.
Stewart Pitches Company
Investors have reacted bullishly to news of Stewart's sentencing and in so doing, have boosted her net worth.
Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia rose nearly 30 percent after the company's founder was sentenced.
After the sentencing, Stewart urged consumers to continue doing business with the company.
Said Stewart, "perhaps all of you out there can continue to show your support by subscribing to our magazine, by buying our products, by encouraging our advertisers to come back in full force to our magazines. Our magazines are great, they deserve your support."
Stewart still holds a 61 percent stake in the company.
Speaking outside the New York courthouse where she was sentenced Friday, Stewart said she regretted that what she called a personal matter mushroomed in a way that hurt her employees and their families.
Stewart thanked those who supported her and corresponded with her -- and urged them to keep showing support by buying her products and subscribing to her magazine.
She said her legal troubles shouldn't have "any effect whatsoever" on her company.
"I'll be back," she promised. "I'm not afraid. Not afraid whatsoever. I'm very sorry it had to come to this."
U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum also sentenced the celebrity homemaker to two years of supervisory probation and a $30,000 fine.
The judge granted Stewart's request that her prison time be delayed until after the appeal of her conviction is heard.
Stewart faced as much as 16 months behind bars.
Just before her sentence was pronounced, Stewart asked the judge to "remember all the good I have done."
"Today is a shameful today. It's shameful for me, for my family and for my company," she said.
Supporters greeted Stewart as she arrived at a federal courthouse in New York for her sentencing.
They applauded, and one shouted, "Hold your head high, Martha!"
Stewart, wearing a black pantsuit, showed no emotion as she strode briskly through a media horde.
Stewart Appeals Conviction
But the sentence doesn't end the case.
Stewart is seeking a new trial because of the perjury charges lodged against a government witness.
Last week, Cedarbaum turned her down, saying there was "no reasonable likelihood" that the allegedly perjured testimony could have affected the jury's verdict.
In advance of Friday's sentencing, there was a letter-writing campaign to Cedarbaum on Stewart's behalf.
More than 1,000 letter writers urged the judge to sentence Stewart to no more than community service.
On a Web site dedicated to keeping Stewart out of prison, her fans are also circulating a petition asking President Bush to pardon the famous homemaker.
Stewart and her former Merrill Lynch stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, were convicted of lying to the government about why Stewart sold shares of ImClone Systems stock in late 2001, just before the price plunged.
Bacanovic is being sentenced separately Friday afternoon.
Stewart Pitches Company
Investors have reacted bullishly to news of Stewart's sentencing and in so doing, have boosted her net worth.
Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia rose nearly 30 percent after the company's founder was sentenced.
After the sentencing, Stewart urged consumers to continue doing business with the company.
Said Stewart, "perhaps all of you out there can continue to show your support by subscribing to our magazine, by buying our products, by encouraging our advertisers to come back in full force to our magazines. Our magazines are great, they deserve your support."
Stewart still holds a 61 percent stake in the company.
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I just nodded off at my friend but I knew she was employed by her as it was evidently but more than this....
