Former Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher tries to get out of sentence
Crimeex-state official was to serve six-month term

Prosecutors objected Wednesday. They argued the judge already has been "extremely lenient” to a bribe taker who "demonstrated arrogance and disregard” throughout court proceedings.

Oklahoma County District Judge Kenneth Watson has set a hearing for July 9.

Fisher on March 2 began serving six months at the private facility. He is on a work-release program there, meaning he is allowed to leave the facility to work during the day.

He was sentenced after he pleaded no contest in February to accepting bribes. He will be on probation for another four years and six months after his release. He also must complete 150 hours of community service.

Fisher, 69, earlier spent about 14 months in state prison on a campaign-corruption case. His attorneys said he is a model prisoner.

"Further incarceration serves only to burden the system and not to further rehabilitate or educate or even to deter Mr. Fisher further. Those functions of incarceration have been accomplished,” defense attorneys told the judge.

Prosecutors countered the public already views Fisher’s six months at the private facility as an incredibly lenient sentence that is "grossly disproportionate to the crime committed by a former elected official.” Prosecutors contend there is no reason to let him out early.

At the sentencing in February, prosecutors recommended a seven-year sentence in the bribery case. The judge chose six months at the private facility, saying sending Fisher back to state prison would be "piling on.”

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