150-Year Term Asked for Ex-Navy Convicted Spy

SAN FRANCISCO — Calling Jerry Whitworth “the central figure” in a Soviet-controlled spy ring, federal prosecutors Monday asked for a 150-year prison term for the former Navy radioman, with no parole eligibility for 50 years.

Whitworth, 47, of Davis, was convicted of selling Navy code and communications secrets for $332,000 to the espionage operation run by his longtime friend, John A. Walker Jr. Whitworth is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge John Vukasin.

The defense has requested a delay, however, to allow time for the normal presentence investigation by court personnel, which defense lawyers say could provide insight into “Mr. Whitworth’s state of mind and remorse.” Vukasin has said he does not need an investigation.

Seven of Whitworth’s convictions carry maximum life sentences. But in papers filed with Vukasin, prosecutors asked for a “lesser” sentence that would actually require Whitworth to stay in prison longer before his first parole hearing.

Under federal law, a prisoner sentenced to life is eligible for parole consideration in 10 years, although there is no guarantee that a parole date will ever be set. Recent court decisions allow a judge to delay parole eligibility by a sentence for a fixed term of years, with no parole consideration for one-third of the term.

“While the granting of parole after 10 years would be extremely unlikely in a case like this, the government’s and the public’s interest in maximum deterrence calls for a sentence making life in prison a certainty for this defendant,” said the papers filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William (Buck) Farmer and Leida Schoggen.

They requested a 150-year term for at least two of Whitworth’s espionage convictions, and sentences of either life or 150 years for each of the other five espionage convictions.