'Web of deceit' traps felon

He gets 40 years for a murder for hire plot and firearm.

By KEVIN GRAHAM, Times Staff Writer
Published January 29, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Robert Covington went through four attorneys.

TAMPA - A federal jury didn't believe Robert Covington when he testified at trial that wanting to hire someone to kill his ex-girlfriend was just a joke.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge James Whittemore told Covington that he didn't believe lots of things the 36-year-old Tampa man said before, during or after his November trial.

"I think you've spun a web of deceit here today or attempted to," Whittemore told Covington before sentencing him to 40 years in prison. "You are a desperate man for reasons I understand."

Covington faced life in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. And he was also found guilty at trial of two counts of conspiracy to hire a hit man to kill his ex-girlfriend, Kristy Cotto.

Prosecutors said Covington wanted Cotto dead to keep her from testifying against him in a domestic violence and weapons case in state court. But one of the men he tried to hire was an undercover Tampa police officer.

Whittemore sentenced Covington to 10 years on both counts in the murder for hire plot. He will serve those terms at the same time, the judge said. And for getting caught with a firearm, Covington drew 30 years.

"I think you are a danger to the public," Whittemore told Covington, labeling him an "armed career criminal."

"Your past record indicates that you have little regard or no regard for anyone that steps foot in your path," the judge said.

Indicted in March 2006, Covington initially pleaded guilty to all three charges. He later persuaded Whittemore to change his plea on the conspiracy charges and go to trial.

"I think you made a serious mistake when you convinced me to withdraw your guilty plea," Whittemore told Covington.

The court appointed four attorneys to represent Covington, after he repeatedly found fault with each of them. He accused a public defender of calling him an "ignorant dumb young n-----." He accused a male attorney of making sexual advances toward him.

Whittemore defended the lawyers, saying they did an exemplary job trying to represent Covington, and called his allegations "simply beyond belief."

At one point before his trial began, Covington said in court that he heard voices.

Monday, he sat alone at the defense table during sentencing, representing himself and citing U.S. codes and case laws.

"It's incredible that he goes from hearing voices and his head burning to an expert on the law," Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Kaiser said in court.

Kevin Graham can be reached at kgraham@sptimes.com or 813 226-3433.

[Last modified January 28, 2008, 23:43:02]