Al Parish to appeal sentence

Economist and former Charleston Southern University professor Al Parish is appealing his 24 year prison sentence. Parish pleaded guilty last year to two counts of fraud and one count of lying to investigators. He was sentenced last month and ordered to repay the $66 million investors lost. His attorney, Andy Savage, filed notice in federal court Tuesday that he intends to appeal the sentence to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. Prosecutors said Parish spent investors' money diamond-encrusted pens, homes and guitars once owned by rock stars. Parish claimed he was suffering from amnesia when authorities announced their investigation last year. A psychiatrist said the condition was stress-induced, but his memory improved after he learned amnesia was not a defense to his charges.

--Associated Press