Nation digest 09/17/02

Yosemite killer sane, is eligible for death penalty

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cary Stayner was sane when he murdered three Yosemite National Park tourists in 1999, jurors agreed Monday in a decision that means he could face the death penalty.

The jury took less than four hours to reject the defense claim the former motel handyman was unable to understand what he was doing.

If he had been found insane, Stayner would have remained in prison for life for another killing. The penalty phase of the trial, in which the jury will decide whether Stayner should be executed or sentenced to life in prison, was to begin today.

The same jury convicted Stayner last month of murdering Cthree people while they were staying at the lodge where he worked outside the park.

Ex-agent gets 10 years for protecting informants

BOSTON -- A former FBI agent who tipped off two mobsters that they were about to be indicted was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison Monday in a case that exposed an overly cozy relationship between the bureau and its underworld informants.

John Connolly, 62, declined the opportunity to speak at his sentencing. Under federal rules, he must serve at least 8 1/2 years.

Connolly was considered a star agent for his help in breaking up the New England Mafia in the 1970s and '80s by using information he got from top-echelon FBI informants James "Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, leaders of the Winter Hill Gang, a Boston Irish mob.

Man gets life in prison for 2001 kidnapping

OMAHA, Neb. -- A man convicted of kidnapping a teenage girl and taking her on a six-day, 900-mile odyssey was sentenced to life in prison Monday.

Anthony Wright, 31, was convicted in June of kidnapping a 17-year-old girl outside a shopping mall near her home in Kearney in April 2001. The high school honors student was freed when Wright surrendered six days later in Montana.

Wright, who also went by the name Tony Zappa, was given an additional seven years for using a firearm to commit a violent crime. The jury also concluded he sexually assaulted the girl, even though he was not charged with that crime.

SEC probes former GE chief's retirement perks

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an inquiry into former General Electric chief Jack Welch's lavish retirement perks, which became public in divorce papers filed by his wife.

GE said Monday it learned of the informal inquiry last week, after its board agreed to take back many of the benefits at Welch's request.

Welch, who helped build GE into a powerhouse conglomerate, retired a year ago.

GE paid all expenses at Welch's Manhattan apartment, including food, wine, cooking and serving staff, laundry and furnishings, according to the divorce papers. The company also paid for his travel expenses, entertainment, private car and driver, and computer equipment.

The SEC also did not return a call seeking comment. Analysts said they believe regulators want to make sure Welch's compensation was properly disclosed to shareholders.

Astronaut named science officer on space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An astronaut who has been toiling on the international space station all summer got a promotion Monday: She has been named the outpost's first science officer.

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe informed Peggy Whitson of her new title during a radio hookup between Mission Control and the orbiting complex. He said someone will be designated a science officer on every succeeding space station crew.

O'Keefe said NASA wants to increase the scientific potential of the space station now that construction soon will be winding down. Only 17 months remain until the U.S. portion of the station is complete.

"We need to utilize it better," O'Keefe said.

-- From wire reports