Sypher back in court

A woman accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino told a U.S. District Court judge in Louisville Friday that she can't afford to pay an attorney to represent her.
Karen Cunagin Sypher said she is not working, doesn't have a bank account with more than $1,000 and is receiving just $1,600 a month in support from an ex-husband and her estranged husband, Tim Sypher, the U of L basketball team's equipment manager.

Magistrate Judge James D. Moyer assigned a public defender for Sypher, James Earhart, who is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, telling her the court would pay his fees.

“Thank you so much,” said Sypher, who at one time teared up when Moyer asked her about having minor children.

Earlier this month, Thomas Clay, who had represented Sypher, asked to withdraw from the case, citing irreconcilable differences with his client.

Moyer told Sypher that Earhart is an experienced attorney who can represent her well “but needs your cooperation as a client. It's a two-way street.”

After the hearing, Russell Lloyd, who is representing Sypher in her divorce case with Tim Sypher, told reporters his client would not be making any comment.

“She's holding up well,” he said, adding however, that the custody of the couple's daughter is apparently going to be an issue.

Karen Sypher is charged with extortion and lying to the FBI. An April 23 complaint accuses Sypher, a 49-year-old former model and saleswoman, of demanding that Pitino pay off her mortgage, finance her children's college educations, purchase two cars of her choice and give her $3,000 cash per month.

She faces up to two years in prison if convicted on charges that another person made calls to Pitino in February at her behest, threatening to publicize allegations of “a criminal nature” against him. She faces another five years if convicted of lying to the FBI by allegedly saying she did not know who called Pitino for her.

Sypher's longtime friend Lester Goetzinger, 49, was charged on June 24 with aiding and abetting Sypher by making threats to Pitino during three phone calls. Prosecutors have agreed to drop those charges if Goetzinger completes a pretrial diversion program and testifies against Sypher.

Her allegations against Pitino stem from a 2003 incident. The Courier-Journal has not published the allegations because they could not be corroborated. Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Stengel has said that Sypher's allegations against Pitino are “void of credibility” and lack “any supporting evidence.”

Stengel's office decided to take no action after reviewing a videotaped complaint Sypher made recently to the sex offenses unit of the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Reporter Jason Riley can be reached at (502) 582-4727.