Ohio judge mulls high sentence for trail-hiking fugitive

CINCINNATI (AP) — A federal judge is considering a tougher sentence than guidelines call for in the case of a Kentucky accountant who embezzled $8.7 million before hiking the Appalachian Trail for six years as a fugitive.

U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott (duh-LAHT') this week sent notice to attorneys in the James Hammes (ham-UHS') case that she's weighing factors including the high money amount and his flight to avoid prosecution.