Judge won't release Lence during appeal

The Daily Inter Lake

John Lence won't be freed on bond as he awaits an appeal of his latest sentence for bank fraud.

U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon in Missoula Friday denied Lence's request to be freed.

Lence was listed as "in transit" Tuesday on a federal inmate locater Web site.

He had begun serving his term at a federal prison in Sheridan, Ore., before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered him to be resentenced. He is presumably on his way back to Oregon from Missoula.

Lence was convicted by a jury three years ago of 15 counts of bank fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Earlier this month, Haddon of Great Falls sentenced Lence to 33 months on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.

It is the third time Lence has been sentenced. His other terms were 21 months and 24 months, both ordered by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy.

Attorney Pat Donley of the U.S. Department of Justice opposed Lence's request to be released on bail, saying it doesn't meet statutory requirements for a release.