https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-pol...er-murder/

Quote:Bauer was outspoken in his view that the criminal justice system in Cook County wasn’t doing enough to keep violent offenders off the street. Some critics of the system say Legghette is an example of that. But court records show Legghette, for the most part, received typical sentences for his crimes and had long completed a two-year prison term for selling a small amount of heroin when he was arrested for killing Bauer on Feb. 13.

Quote:Legghette was arrested outside the Thompson Center, where witnesses said he had struggled with Bauer before allegedly shooting the decorated police commander in a stairwell adjacent to the downtown office building. Police officers filled every seat and stood lining the walls of the courtroom for Legghette’s bond hearing earlier this month. It is not clear whether Legghette, who only glanced at the gallery, saw any loved ones in the courtroom as well.

The Chicago Sun-Times was unable to reach any of his relatives for comment as of Tuesday.

Quote:The armed robbery charges were the most significant ones Legghette faced in a criminal career that began with a 1994 gun arrest, when court records indicate he was living with his newly remarried mother and stepfather.

When he was arrested a few months later, for disorderly conduct, he listed his address as his maternal grandmother’s house.

A few months later, he was arrested for drug possession near his father’s house, where police said he had been soliciting drug buyers, according to court records. In a police report, officers said Legghette told them he had “just started his shift and (he) had just made one sale.”

Two years later, when he was arrested for drug possession, he listed his mother’s address in Rogers Park. In 1998, when he was arrested in the armed robbery case that sent him to prison for the first time, Legghette said he was living at his father’s house in Bronzeville, the same address listed in court records after his arrest for Bauer’s murder.

Quote:Legghette’s conviction stuck and he remained in prison until 2005, then landed back in custody for violating his parole in 2007.

In that case, Legghette dodged significant jail time, despite being stopped by police with a chrome revolver, a bullet-proof vest, a baggie of heroin and $1,847 cash inside a mini van he was driving on the South Side.

As a convicted felon, Legghette faced felony charges for both having the gun and body armor. In a plea deal, prosecutors dropped those charges, and Legghette pleaded guilty to a count of possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

Legghette, who had faced a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, received a sentence of three years in prison. Having spent more than a year in jail before entering his guilty plea, Legghette spent only a few weeks in prison before he was released on probation, though he landed back in DOC custody for another four months after twice failing drug tests in 2010.

It is not clear from court records why Legghette — who was allegedly wearing a bullet-proof vest when he shot Bauer — was able to get such a relatively light sentence in the 2007 case. Dan Locallo, a former Cook County judge who reviewed the charges against Legghette at the request of the Sun-Times, said the plea deal was generous, but likely had an explanation.

“There could have been problems with evidence, problems with witnesses,” Locallo said.

“Still, given his background, there were signs that he did not want to be a solid citizen.”

The sentence was relatively light, given Legghette’s criminal record, but Legghette had already been held in jail for more than a year and had served prison time for the parole violation when the plea deal was struck.

(02-28-2018 11:37 AM)Kaplony Wrote:  https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-pol...er-murder/

Quote:Bauer was outspoken in his view that the criminal justice system in Cook County wasn’t doing enough to keep violent offenders off the street. Some critics of the system say Legghette is an example of that. But court records show Legghette, for the most part, received typical sentences for his crimes and had long completed a two-year prison term for selling a small amount of heroin when he was arrested for killing Bauer on Feb. 13.

Quote:Legghette was arrested outside the Thompson Center, where witnesses said he had struggled with Bauer before allegedly shooting the decorated police commander in a stairwell adjacent to the downtown office building. Police officers filled every seat and stood lining the walls of the courtroom for Legghette’s bond hearing earlier this month. It is not clear whether Legghette, who only glanced at the gallery, saw any loved ones in the courtroom as well.
The Chicago Sun-Times was unable to reach any of his relatives for comment as of Tuesday.

Quote:The armed robbery charges were the most significant ones Legghette faced in a criminal career that began with a 1994 gun arrest, when court records indicate he was living with his newly remarried mother and stepfather.
When he was arrested a few months later, for disorderly conduct, he listed his address as his maternal grandmother’s house.
A few months later, he was arrested for drug possession near his father’s house, where police said he had been soliciting drug buyers, according to court records. In a police report, officers said Legghette told them he had “just started his shift and (he) had just made one sale.”
Two years later, when he was arrested for drug possession, he listed his mother’s address in Rogers Park. In 1998, when he was arrested in the armed robbery case that sent him to prison for the first time, Legghette said he was living at his father’s house in Bronzeville, the same address listed in court records after his arrest for Bauer’s murder.

Quote:Legghette’s conviction stuck and he remained in prison until 2005, then landed back in custody for violating his parole in 2007.
In that case, Legghette dodged significant jail time, despite being stopped by police with a chrome revolver, a bullet-proof vest, a baggie of heroin and $1,847 cash inside a mini van he was driving on the South Side.
As a convicted felon, Legghette faced felony charges for both having the gun and body armor. In a plea deal, prosecutors dropped those charges, and Legghette pleaded guilty to a count of possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.
Legghette, who had faced a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, received a sentence of three years in prison. Having spent more than a year in jail before entering his guilty plea, Legghette spent only a few weeks in prison before he was released on probation, though he landed back in DOC custody for another four months after twice failing drug tests in 2010.
It is not clear from court records why Legghette — who was allegedly wearing a bullet-proof vest when he shot Bauer — was able to get such a relatively light sentence in the 2007 case. Dan Locallo, a former Cook County judge who reviewed the charges against Legghette at the request of the Sun-Times, said the plea deal was generous, but likely had an explanation.
“There could have been problems with evidence, problems with witnesses,” Locallo said.
“Still, given his background, there were signs that he did not want to be a solid citizen.”
The sentence was relatively light, given Legghette’s criminal record, but Legghette had already been held in jail for more than a year and had served prison time for the parole violation when the plea deal was struck.

This is how Chicago can have strict gun regulation and murders out the wazoo. You can pass a law, but if you don't enforce it, it means nothing.

Sigh, one helluva city I'm in...