Former Weatherman: "I Knew What I Was Doing Was Shady And Wrong"
posted April 6, 2007
Federal Judge Curtis Collier on Thursday sentenced former Channel 9 weatherman Neal Pascal to three months home confinement for making a false statement on mortgage papers.
Judge Collier also directed that Pascal produce a video on the subject of mortgage fraud within the next six months.
He must pay a $4,000 fine in connection with inflating the value of the sales price of homes he bought in order to get a higher loan and avoid a down payment.
He also has to perform 150 hours of community service.
Pascal told the judge, "I knew what I was doing was shady and wrong. I had no business doing it."
His attorney, Dee Hobbs, said Pascal "has not given up hope of being able to return to his chosen profession."
He noted that Pascal lost his $123,000-per-year weather job last September as a result of the case.
Attorney Hobbs had sought probation, saying that none of the lenders lost any money, but had profits, on the Pascal transactions.
The sentencing range was 0-6 months.
Prosecutor Gary Humble said some imprisonment was warranted, and he said considering that Pascal made over $200,000 as a result of the false statements that a sentencing range should be 8-14 months.
But he said Pascal had cooperated closely with the government, including "wearing a wire" and testifying before a federal Grand Jury. He said the help brought successful prosecution of two individuals.
Attorney Hobbs said inflating the price of homes on sales documents is "a common practice" and often not prosecuted. He said Pascal "was on a number of transactions. That is why he is before this court."
He said Pascal bought a large number of homes over a 15-month period in 2001-2002 using the inflated sales figures. He said without the device "he would not have been able to acquire the 32 homes in such a short time."
The attorney said Pascal has paid off 19 of the loans and is current on the other ones. He said lenders stand to make over $600,000 on the deals, and he said the remaining properties have gone up in value.
Pascal told Judge Collier, "I don't hold anything against the government. I'm guilty and I ought to be called out for it. I'm ready to move on and be a good member of this community."
Prosecutor Humble said it is "an interesting case that perhaps calls for the wisdom of Solomon" for the judge.
He said Pascal had been involved in numerous transactions that shifted more risk to lenders.
He said he was "a very good businessman who did not make a good moral decision."
Judge Collier said the Pascal actions "were repeated time and time again over a considerable period of time."
He said the 30-year local weatherman "was highly paid and enjoyed community respect. You put all that at risk because you were motivated by profit."
Judge Collier said the lenders could have had losses "if something had happened to you or there had been a change in the economy."
He said there is a perception that well-off, prominent individuals get lighter sentences than others. He said he had considered sentencing Pascal at a higher range.
But he said he opted for the sentence he imposed, saying the video might be an aid to help prevent mortgage fraud.
He said Pascal would not have to appear in the video itself if he chose not to.
Pascal told reporters he and his wife plan to open a restaurant here in the next few months. He said it "may have a weather name."
Attorney Hobbs said Pascal "didn't get a break because he is a weather celebrity. There were a lot of factors involved."
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |