PRISON SENTENCES URGED IN PR CASE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS WELL BELOW POSSIBLE MAXIMUMS.

Byline: BETH BARRETT Staff Writer

The former head of Fleishman-Hillard's public relations office in Los Angeles should be sentenced to five years in prison and his top executive to more than three years for overcharging L.A.'s Department of Water and Power and other clients, federal prosecutors have recommended.

The recommendations are significantly less than the maximum 240 years facing Doug Dowie, who ran the agency's L.A. office, and 225 years facing John Stodder, who were convicted in May of multiple counts of conspiracy and wire fraud.

Their sentencing is set for Nov. 13.

During a hearing Monday, U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess -- who previously rejected a request for a new trial -- said he would consider a motion by Dowie asserting that his right to due process was violated when the firm quit paying his legal fees.

Dowie, 58, has asked in court papers to be sentenced to probation and community service, and noted that the Probation Office had recommended he be sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.

He cited his ``exemplary life prior to the events that gave rise to the government's prosecution in this case.''

The documents note that he served as a Marine in Vietnam and as managing editor at the Los Angeles Daily News, and that he'd won the American Jewish Committee's Civic Leadership Award in 2004.

Stodder's attorney, Jan Handzlik, issued a statement Monday seeking leniency for his client.

``John Stodder has accepted responsibility for his part in the mess at Fleishman-Hillard and has expressed remorse for his own conduct and the harm it caused,'' he said. ``We hope the court rejects the government's harsh recommendation, which at a minimum lacks a sense of proportion, and instead uses compassion and common sense.''

But prosecutors said the defendants deserve prison terms and fines, citing their ``ongoing refusal to accept any responsibility for their conduct,'' according to court documents.

``These defendants enjoyed prominent social positions; they were well- compensated executives; and they wielded great influence in their political community. These defendants, therefore, ostensibly motivated by simple greed, ambition and expedience, committed their crimes not for wanting but for wanting yet more.''

The overbilling case grew out of a sweeping investigation into City Hall corruption.

Another former Fleishman-Hillard executive, Steve Sugerman, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a deal with prosecutors, and was sentenced last month to three years' probation and 250 hours' community service.

In arguing that he should get only probation, Dowie filed numerous letters of support, including one from former Department of Water and Power chief David Wiggs, who worked with the defendant during the period when most of the overbillings took place.

``I had complete trust in Doug and if I were to run a company again, I would not hesitate to seek out and hire Doug,'' Wiggs' letter said. ``The findings of the jury simply do not reflect the person I know and worked with for 3 1/2 years.''

beth.barrett(at)dailynews.com

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