LOS ANGELES : Koon, Powell Petition for Bail During Appeal

Lawyers for Sgt. Stacey C. Koon and Officer Laurence M. Powell have completed motions asking a federal appellate court to allow the two men to remain free on bail while they appeal their convictions for violating Rodney G. King’s civil rights.

Joel Levine, who represents Koon, said he sent his appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeal in San Francisco late Thursday, arguing that Koon should remain free because he did not commit a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge John G. Davies concluded that the civil rights offense was a violent crime, but Levine argued that Davies erred in that conclusion. Levine also argued that the appellate court should find, as Davies did, that there are substantial issues to be considered on appeal.

William J. Kopeny, one of the lawyers who represents Powell, mailed his appeal Friday. It adopts many of the same arguments, and the two motions are likely to be considered together. Lawyers for the officers are asking that the court grant the motions before Sept. 27, when Koon and Powell are scheduled to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons.