Judge won't revisit Danton's sentence

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- A federal judge has refused to revisit the prison sentence he handed Mike Danton for the former St. Louis Blues player's failed bid to have his agent killed, again foiling the inmate's push to be transferred to his native Canada to serve his time.

In throwing out Danton's appeal, U.S. District Judge William Stiehl found that Danton knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to challenge the 7 1/2-year sentence he got in November 2004 after accepting a deal with prosecutors and pleading guilty to murder conspiracy charges.

The ruling assures that Danton remains inmate No. 10096-111 at a prison in Fort Dix, N.J.

One of Danton's attorneys, Howard Kieffer of Santa Ana, Calif., said Thursday a decision on subsequent appeals would be made "within an appropriate time period."

"There are other things we can do," he said, declining additional comment.

With Danton's July 2004 plea, prosecutors agreed not to oppose Danton's deportation to Canada, where he said he wanted to get behind-bars surgical treatment for a shoulder injury and therapy for what his sentencing request called his "grave mental disorders."

Danton sued the U.S. government last November, contending that he unfairly has not been transferred to Canada and arguing that "similarly situated applicants have been approved for removal to their home nations, which include Canada." Danton asked to be resentenced.

The U.S. government insisted no regulations require action on international transfers within a specified time, and that Danton's deal did not require a transfer, only that he be considered for one.

In rejecting Danton's transfer request in March, the U.S. government said the move "would not serve the ends of justice." Danton can reapply for transfer in 2008.

Danton pleaded guilty to orchestrating a conspiracy to commit an interstate killing targeting his agent, David Frost. The FBI learned of the plot in advance, and Frost was unharmed.

In September 2004, a federal jury acquitted Katie Wolfmeyer of Florissant, Mo., of charges she took part in the plot.