CHAD SMITH
chad.smith@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 08/01/09
JACKSONVILLE -- Thomas G. Manuel sat in a federal courtroom here Friday, his legs crossed and demeanor subdued as he waited for the judge.
One of his attorneys summoned him, and he rose from the bench.
"See ya," he said to his wife, Terry.
"OK," she replied.
He returned minutes later. In the coming weeks, though, he could be sent away from her for up to a decade.
At times before and during Manuel's sentencing hearing, he seemed lighthearted, chatting with his wife, who wore a turquoise, palm tree-print sundress, about iTunes gift cards and chicken sandwiches.
He chuckled and smiled as he talked county politics with Bruce Kendeigh and Maureen Ortagus, a few of the local activists who showed. Diane Mills, Ed Slavin and Merrill Roland sat on the prosecution side and didn't speak with Manuel.
At other times, Manuel, 64, appeared to be weighed down by the legal process that a year ago ended his political career and now could take away years of his freedom.
Terry Manuel wrapped her arm around him, and they whispered into each other's ears.
Then he stared for a minute or so into the still courtroom.
Defense attorney Matthew Kachergus came back into the room and said, "Tom."
Waving some papers, he motioned for Manuel to follow.
Manuel rose again, cleared his throat and buttoned the jacket of his navy blue pinstripe suit.
Kachergus went over documents with the prosecutors, while fellow defense attorney Bill Sheppard yakked with a bailiff.
Manuel sat at the defense table alone, his hands folded.
After U.S. District Judge Howard T. Snyder came in at about 10:40 a.m., Manuel looked at his wife for a moment.
She looked back.
Then he was called to be sworn in.
Snyder told Sheppard, who walks with a cane, and Manuel, whose medical condition delayed the start of the trial for two months, they could have a seat instead of standing at the lectern for the hearing. The judge first asked a few questions about Manuel's personal life. Manuel said he was a banker and a tourism business owner and had six children. When Snyder questioned Manuel about his health, the defendant spoke matter-of-factly about seeing a psychiatrist, his possible bipolar disorder and the 21 medications he takes every day, some to regulate his heart after he had a transplant a few years ago.
Toward the end of the hearing, though, when the judge asked about the allegations, Manuel took a more sheepish tone.
After going over the government's story, Snyder asked with an inquisitive shrug, "Is that what you did?"
"Yes, sir," Manuel replied.
Snyder said he'd recommend Manuel's guilty plea be accepted.
Then, he said, "Mr. Manuel, I probably won't see you again. Your next stop will probably be upstairs for sentencing, so good luck to you."
After the hearing, though, his spirits seemed lifted, but he wouldn't answer reporters' questions as Sheppard and he made their way outside.
As cameras aren't allowed in federal court, several photographers were camped on the courthouse plaza, trying to gauge from which exit Manuel would emerge.
After a few minutes, Sheppard and he exited from the south side of the building, and the photographers and reporters who guessed wrong jogged to meet him at the curb, where Kachergus and Terry Manuel were waiting in a Volvo station wagon.
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