DALLAS, May 21 (UPI) -- Former Dallas City Council member James Fantroy was told Wednesday to admit he stole money from a college or go to jail.
He was convicted in February of stealing $20,000 from Paul Quinn College in Dallas, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade gave Fantroy the option of publicly admitting his guilt or spending a month in prison.
But whatever he decides to do, Fantroy will also serve 180 days of home confinement followed by two years of probation. He also was ordered to pay more than $17,000 in restitution.
Fantroy had faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but his attorneys argued the 70-year-old's kidney cancer should keep him out of prison, the newspaper said.
Kinkeade dared Fantroy Wednesday to "stand in front of the courthouse or sit in that chair and admit what you did was wrong. I don't think you have the guts to do that. It's up to you."
David Pire, Fantroy's attorney, said he would meet with his client during the weekend to discuss the judge's offer.
"I've never seen anything like this. Mr. Fantroy didn't expect this. I never gave him any advice on this when we prepared for sentencing," Pire said