Topeka — The former chief executive officer of Westar Energy Inc. is getting out of federal prison next month.
In court documents filed Tuesday, attorneys for David Wittig said he is scheduled to be released on Aug. 4 and sent to a halfway house. Wittig was convicted of bank fraud in 2003 and was eventually sentenced to two years in prison.
He served 13 months of his sentence before returning in January to a federal prison in Sandstone, Minn., to complete the remaining 11 months. His attorneys are asking that the judge in the case reinstate terms that allowed him to remain free pending appeal in a separate criminal case.
That case, in which Wittig is accused of looting the Topeka-based utility, is on hold while the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides whether Wittig and another former Westar executive can be tried on the charges for a third time.
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puddleglum (anonymous) says…
yeah!
anybody who can stick it to the utility company is a hero in my book!
absolutelyridiculous (anonymous) says…
Hey...get him free soon-give him a big house where the air conditioning can't be turned off...make him pay the electric bill.
gatekeeper (anonymous) says…
You people don't even know what you're talking about.
Yes, Westar pays his legal fees for now (unless he is convicted in a new trial - then he would have to reimburse the company). It was in his contract that they would pay any legal fees he incurs. You want to blame someone, blame the board members who all approved everything Wittig ever did. Wittig was smart, they offered him one heck of a contract to come here and he took them up on it. If anyone's got some explaining to do, it's the entire board at Westar. David isn't dumb and he was offered an incredible deal and took advantage of it.
We didn't get stuck with a 15% utility increase to pay for his legal fees. You are full of it. Last year, they did do a 15% increase because of increased fuel charges. In case you don't know, all increases have to be submitted and approved to the KS regulators.
I know the family. I'm not a fan of David's. But the junk that people spew on here about him is usually false. For once, I have to speak up about it. The entire family has been harassed and it's not fair.
What he did in the bank case was wrong. He's paid for that. Even though it hurt no one and no money was lost, he did break the law and has served his time. What he did at Westar was known and approved by the board. You want to take your hatred out on someone, take it out on the board members (many of which are still serving and getting nice, hefty paychecks).
puddleglum (anonymous) says…
thanks gatekeeper!
glad to see someone has my back.
I don't pay for what david did. My money goes to the utility company that constantly raises rates and comes up with 'usage fees' left and right. Tell you the truth, I think westar is the utility-monopoly that I hate the least. I can think of others that are much worse.
but like i said earlier:
anyone who can rip off a utility is a hero.
OutlawJHawk (anonymous) says…
Wittig has been tried three times for the same crime and acquitted. What in the hell is wrong with the criminal justice system. What a waste of money. Anyone ever heard of double jeopardy. Hathaway, the federal prosecutor, belongs in prison. He is a communist and fascist taking advantage of our screwed up justice system for self promotion. His blantant miscontent for successful capitalists is evidenced by the many CEO's lives he has destroyed. I for one will be the first one to poke him with a pitch fork when I meet him in hell. I will save a place in line for Wittig to do the same.
Cmella (anonymous) says…
Ok... you might know the family.. but at that time I was an employee... and we got screwed... he used OUR money from our benefits and someone with that kind of mind needs to stay in there! He effected more than just his famiy's life he effected everyone of us especially the employees that were planning to retire or was retired that was in a negotiated contract. I have no sympathy for him, and quite frankly do I have sympathy for his family while they lived in that mansion in Topeka.. are you serious...!!!! Welcome to our world, the world where no matter whom you are you NEED to pay, and quite frankly while the employees that were waiting for their money suffered deeply... I still don't feel any sympathy
KS (anonymous) says…
About time! Now they can impeach that crazy Judge Julie.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…
Gatekeeper;
I am not sure what, but something is a foul with your post. You are too connected to this one.
Not that I care really, I will never look at this thread again.
But, I am on to you cowboy......
gatekeeper (anonymous) says…
Cmella (Anonymous) says…
Ok… you might know the family.. but at that time I was an employee… and we got screwed… he used OUR money from our benefits and someone with that kind of mind needs to stay in there! He effected more than just his famiy's life he effected everyone of us especially the employees that were planning to retire or was retired that was in a negotiated contract. I have no sympathy for him, and quite frankly do I have sympathy for his family while they lived in that mansion in Topeka.. are you serious…!!!! Welcome to our world, the world where no matter whom you are you NEED to pay, and quite frankly while the employees that were waiting for their money suffered deeply… I still don't feel any sympathy
====
You need to take this out on the board members, not just David. I've known the family for a very long time. Do you realize how much of David's compensation was in stock? Everyone seems to think that he got rich while everyone else lost everything. He lost most of his earnings because it was stock options.
I don't think you know very much - I don't know if many employees of Westar really do know much about what really happened there. He still has the house. Do you know he was asked to purchase the house? Do you know that the contract he was given gave him the right to make Westar purchase the house back from him if they ever sold Westar? I'm telling you, the board at Westar is crooked. They hired him for one thing - to aquire other companies that had nothing to do with ultilities. He was a big shot in NY who was brought here to make Westar more than it should have been. The board knew what they were doing when they hired him.
I work with someone now whose husband still works for Westar (lineman). They lost a lot of their retirement. They held onto that stock, which has now gone up in value again. It delayed their retirement is all.
Like I said, I'm not a fan of Davids. I am very close to other members of the family (by the way, the rest of the family is not well to do, they are very average). But, I do know that David is only partly to blame for what happened to Westar. The board knew of and approved everything that was done. David didn't act alone.
Cmella (anonymous) says…
Why dont we ask some of those retirees that were tremendously effected... And lost a lot of money that they worked many of years for, I understand that the current lineman has been compensated which is due to a lawsuit from our representation, but some of those retirees lost their homes, lost insurance and by the way I was at some of those board meetings... Were you?
lawrenceguy40 (anonymous) says…
Another case of wealth envy interfering with the judicial system.
Now Barry is in office it will only get worse. Whatever happened to respect for one's elders and betters?
gatekeeper (anonymous) says…
Babboy - I am just a friend of the family. I am "too connected"???? I am not close to David. I am very close friends with other members of the family. What I have said here is public knowledge.
I don't have sympathy for David. I do have sympathy for his two boys.
David did exploit every opportunity that Westar gave him at compensation. He was taking advantage of what was offered to him and was a smart guy and knew how to get every last penny. And he liked the lavish life style and had no problem taking advantage of it.
Cmella (anonymous) says…
David did exploit every opportunity that Westar gave him at compensation. He was taking advantage of what was offered to him and was a smart guy and knew how to get every last penny. And he liked the lavish life style and had no problem taking advantage of it.
This is a very true statement... at any cost, and no matter whom it hurt in the process including his family and other families that worked hard for years.
KS (anonymous) says…
Gatekeeper is correct. The BOD is at fault on this one. Dave got s raw deal and I am not close to the family whatsoever! The Judge on this one was all wrong and the Appeals Court said so!
76trombones (anonymous) says…
David was the C.E.O. , but was he not also the "Chairman of the Board" ??? If so, who did he report to, other than the FTC?
pace (anonymous) says…
Why is this a guilt free crime that hurt no one but himself and his family. Cry me a river. I imagine him holding a gun and mugging every person he stole from. The only thing was he didn't have to. because he stole hiding behind his job. A thief and a cad. He was worse than a common criminal, no necessity, all the opportunities to be better than this. He should of gotten more time. His restitution was considerate to his family, just unfair to the families that raise sons and honor husbands who don't steal.
KS (anonymous) says…
Trombones. I don't think he was COB but the BOD are guys responsible, even if he was COB. I am on the east coast right now and it is time to something else. Later.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
Weren't a large number of the board members and Mr Wittag, good ol KU people?
GD4TREY (anonymous) says…
I side with gatekeeper too, David & Beth are very nice people if any of you ever knew them. Oh and by the way didn't protection one appear to be a good aquisition on paper when David pushed to buy it?? Hmm, didn't Protection One lie about something if I remember, and was actually in financial trouble?? If that deal would have gone good we might not be having this conversation, because he would have looked like a genious. Quit wasting taxpayers dollars on trial after trial, quit falling for all the media BS on this. And as for the board at Westsar, David couldn't do any of the things he did without a majority vote. So take a look at those idiots, an especially the ones still there acting all innocent and pointing their fingers at Wittiig and Lake.
KS (anonymous) says…
gd4trey. - You are right on. Most of these posters don't understand corporate structures. The freakin BOD approves it all.