Ex-Capital OTB head starts jail

Embattled former Capital OTB head Davis M. Etkin began his two-year sentence for fraud and bribery on Monday in a Schenectady jail in upstate New York, according to an article in Tuesday's Albany Times Union.

Etkin, 73, was sentenced a little more than one year ago after he pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery charges in connection with his job at Capital OTB. He had been free since then on $50,000 bail.

On Monday, Etkin told Guy P. Tomlinson, an acting Schenectady County Court Judge, that he had pleaded guilty to the charges to protect members of his family, including his son, Mark, who also was jailed for bribing an OTB employee.

"I want to tell you right now, your honor, I am not guilty of these charges," Etkin said. "I pleaded guilty, but I am not guilty."

Etkin's lawyers and prosecutors from the state attorney general's office have a hearing scheduled later this week with state Supreme Court Justice Richard Aulisi, who has agreed to hear more arguments in the case.