Idaho Judge Denies Sentence Delay for Ski Resort Suitor

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A judge rejected a former Tamarack Resort suitor's bid to delay his sentencing following his conviction on fraud charges. Matthew Hutcheson of Eagle sought to delay the July 31 sentencing on grounds he'd just gotten a new lawyer and needed more time to prepare.

But U.S. District Judge  William Fremming Nielsen late Monday ruled Hutcheson's new lawyer, Ryan P. Henson, took the case knowing the sentencing date was firm. Nielsen pointed out Henson will have had three weeks since his July 8 appointment to prepare.

Federal prosecutors have asked Nielsen to send Hutcheson to prison for more than 17 years after his April conviction on 17 counts of wire fraud, crimes in which they said he stole retirees' money to benefit himself and to further his scheme to buy Tamarack.