ANCHORAGE — Former state Rep. Vic Kohring turned himself over to federal marshals Monday morning in Anchorage after spending three hours waving goodbye to rush-hour commuters along the side of the Glenn Highway.

Kohring’s surrender begins a transfer process that will shuttle him from Anchorage to a federal facility in the Seattle area, said Randy Johnson of the U.S. Marshal’s Office. From there, he will stay in federal custody as he is transported to his final destination, a federal prison in Taft, Calif., about 120 miles north of Los Angeles, to serve his 42-month sentence.

Johnson said Kohring will be shackled whenever he is moved as any other prisoner would be. He will also travel with other prisoners while en route to Taft.

ANDREW WELLNER/Frontiersman Former state House Rep. Vic Kohring waves goodbye to Mat-Su Valley commuters Monday morning prior to surrendering himself to federal authorities to serve a 42-month prison sentence.

“There can be a full range of people on an airplane with him,” Johnson said of the transport process.

The morning farewell from Kohring — who erected a sign that read “Thanks Alaska” while he waved to passing cars — garnered honks and cheers from some motorists, and negative comments and obscene hand gestures from others. Kohring said the roadside sendoff was his way to show appreciation to those who have supported him.

“I’m very humbled and very appreciative,” Kohring said, just before a supporter on a motorcycle pulled over to wish him luck.

After dismantling his sign and leaving the side of the highway, the former seven-term legislator showed up at the federal courthouse in Anchorage just after 10 a.m. As he walked through security, Kohring said the prospect of prison doesn’t scare him.

“I’m feeling confident,” Kohring said. “My legal prospects are very good.”

Walking past a pack of media noticeably less in numbers than the day of his sentencing, Kohring didn’t talk much at the urging of his federal public defender, Rich Curtner.

On the side of the Glenn Highway earlier in the day, however, Kohring discussed his plans to continue fighting his conviction and one day return to his life in Alaska. Kohring was convicted in December 2007 of felony bribery, conspiracy and attempted coercion for taking money from former VECO oil services company executives in return for political favors. Kohring has maintained his innocence.

He said a notice of appeal has already been filed in federal court and that he will continue to fight for a new trial from behind bars in California.

“I hope to get a new trial in Seattle,” Kohring said, adding he hopes for what he calls a new, impartial judge. “If I can get a new judge without any kind of bias.”

Kohring contends that U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick, who presided over Kohring’s trial and sentencing, should have recused himself because his wife was an ardent political adversary of Kohring’s while Kohring served in the state House. Sedwick did not recuse himself, and requests for a new trial venue from Kohring were denied.

Kohring has maintained the money he received from Allen was some financial help from a friend and not a bribe for votes. Kohring said he was having financial troubles at the time and looked to Allen, a millionaire, for help.

In a June 27 e-mail message, Kohring says his June 30 self surrender date is ironic because it marks his 45th anniversary of arriving in Alaska.

Originally from Chicago, Kohring said he was 4 years old when he and his family crossed the Yukon-Alaska border in 1963.

“It's interesting that the 30th is the very day I'll be enduring one of the worst days of my life,” Kohring says in the e-mail.

When he gets out of prison, Kohring said he will concentrate on rebuilding his life. He said he will try to get his family back together, rebuild his finances and, hopefully, return to public office.

“I really love public service,” Kohring said.

His sister, Heidi Hackel, who said she flew up from Kentucky to see her brother off, said she is looking toward the future and her brother’s release.

“We just feel like there’s a purpose in all this,” Hackel said.

Hackel also believes Kohring was denied a fair trial, but said she is confident for her brother’s future.

“God’s going to open some doors for him,” she said.

In what was his final public appearance in Alaska before becoming a federal inmate Monday, Kohring walked through the doors of the federal courthouse, waved to gathered media and expressed his confidence for the next 42 months.

“I’m not scared at all,” Kohring said.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.