Chuck Turner won't appeal verdict; won't quit council seat

Chuck Turner, convicted last week of extortion and perjury, said today he won't appeal - but will fight any attempt by his fellow councilors to boot him out of office. In a statement on his Web site, he writes:

Some have suggested that I should appeal to try to get a new trial. However, I can't see what would be gained by an appeal. The main problem created by the verdict is that it puts pressure on my fellow Councilors to vote me off the Council. However, the appeal process moves too slowly to help me remain on the Council.

While I am not going to appeal the verdict, I will not resign from the Council. In fact, I intend to fight to finish my term of office ending 12/31/2011 since there are a number of projects that I initiated that need more work.

Turner said he hopes a letter writing campaign by supporters will convince Judge Douglas Woodlock to give him probation rather than prison time at sentencing on Jan. 25 and convince City Council President Michael Ross to delay any vote on stripping him of his seat until after sentencing - with the hope that if Woodlock gives him probation, the rest of the council will let him stay in office.

Turner said that because of the cost of his defense, he's closing his Roxbury district office immediately.

Via Gintautus Dumcius.