Shamah Sentenced to 19 Years

Today, Mahmoud (Mike) Shamah was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for robberies of drug dealers he committed while he was a Chicago police officer. On Wednesday we reported that Shamah's partner, Richard Doroniuk was sentenced to 11 years for his part in the crimes. Shamah and Doroniuk would rob drug dealers of their money and would plant evidence on motorists they suspected as being drug dealers. There was also evidence introduced at their trial that a sitting judge was bribed by them. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said he hoped the sentence would send a message to Chicago police officers and restore the public's faith in the police. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines called for a minimum of 24 years in prison but Judge Gettleman thought that was too harsh and imposed a lower sentence. Shamah and Doronuik were originally nabbed by the FBI when they were caught stealing what they thought was real money from an inventory locker. As part of the sentence, Shamah will be required to repay $1,780 in money stolen from the robberies of the drug dealers and $7,000 from a storage locker at the police department. Shamah will be required to report to a federal penitentiary on August 10, 2009.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Obama Accepts Kent's Resignation

In what will probably be our final post on this matter, the White House has announced that President Obama has accepted the resignation of impeached federal district court judge Samuel Kent. This means that he has officially been removed from his seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Earlier this month Kent became the first federal judge to be impeached in 20 years and only the thirteenth federal judge to ever be impeached. Kent's resignation comes in the midst of the preparation of his impeachment trial proceedings in the Senate.

It was only a month ago that Kent submitted his first letter of resignation that was to be effective in one year. This meant that Kent would continue to receive his $174,000 annual salary and health insurance benefits. It was after that first letter of resignation that the impeachment process accelerated resulting in his immediate removal from the bench.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 800-228-7295.

Elgin Parking Ticket Appeals Process Being Challenged In Court

A South Elgin man is suing the City of Elgin claiming that the town's appeals process for parking tickets is faulty. The man challenging the appeals process is Dan Kairis. Dan's son received a parking ticket in January. Elgin had apparently set up an odd-even parking schedule along certain streets to ease snow removal and leaf pick up at certain locations. Dan showed up at the appeal hearing and argued that the city had not put up any signs. He also presented photographs showing that no signs were posted. Dan argues that the hearing officer was a private attorney paid by the town, did not allow him to tape record the hearing, did not allow him to cross examine the officer who wrote the ticket and presented evidence on behalf of the town. Dan is claiming in his lawsuit that he did not get a fair chance to face his accuser and that there was a conflict between the hearing officer's role as a judge and his actions as a prosecutor on behalf of the town.

Dan Kairis is acting as his own attorney. We wish him the best of luck in his lawsuit.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Warning! DUI Crackdown in Kane County This Weekend

The Kane County State's Attorney's Office, along with local police agencies in Kane County, have announced that they will be teaming up this weekend for the county's third "No Refusal" operation where officers will obtain on the spot search warrants against drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. While the details are not being set out, it sounds as if a court judge will be present to sign search warrants at these sting locations. The warrants could require that a motorist submit to a breath, urine or blood test. If a driver refuses to comply with such a warrant, officials have stated that they may be charged with contempt of court. The operation is scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday but officials are not disclosing where in Kane County these operations will be carried out.

The first "No Refusal" operation took place on Memorial Day Weekend in 2008 and resulted in 14 arrests. The second "No Refusal" operation took place over this year's St. Patrick's Day weekend and resulted in just 3 arrests.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Chicago Cop Sentenced to 11 Years

On November 22, 2008, we published a blog about the trial of former Chicago cop Mahmoud Shamah who was on trial for using his office to steal. There was testimony at the trial that Shamah and his partner would plant evidence on motorists when stops came up empty and would steal money from suspected drug dealers during traffic stops. His partner testified that it was easy to steal money from suspected drug dealers because they could not complain that their drug money had been stolen. On December 9, 2008 we informed our readers that Shamah was convicted of the charges. Shamah's partner, Richard Doroniuk, was sentenced to 11 years in prison today for his part in the crimes. During the sentencing hearing, federal district court judge Robert Gettleman stated that "in this city, it seems to me that we are bombarded by stories and cases and prosecutions of police misconduct," Gettleman went on to say that "it's been accelerating . . . it's very discouraging."

Shamah is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Supreme Court Puts Off Death Penalty Case

Yesterday the Supreme Court put off a controversial death penalty case with racial overtones until it reconvenes in the fall. Troy Davis has been in prison on death row for 18 years, convicted of murder, for the 1989 shooting death of a white policeman in Georgia. Davis has been denying his guilt from the beginning. Since his 1991 trial, 7 out of the 9 witnesses in his trial have either recanted or changed their testimony. There was no weapon found, no fingerprint evidence and no DNA evidence. One of the state's witnesses has since identified another man as the shooter. Davis has been granted several 11th hour stay of executions and has garnered international support for his cause. The European Union has opposed his execution, as has Pope Benedict XVI. There was no explanation for the court's decision yesterday. The decision means that no execution date will be set until the court reconvenes in the fall.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.

Supreme Court Adds Confrontation Clause Case

In it's final act of the term, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving the Confrontation Clause of the 6th Amendment. The case is Briscoe v. Virginia. The question in that case is whether it is proper for the state to introduce a certificate of a forensic lab technician without being required to present the actual testimony of the lab technician? Does that violate the 6th Amendment? Virginia courts found there was no constitutional violation because the defendant is allowed to call the lab technician as a witness in their case. This grant of certiorari comes on the heals of the case of Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts decided last week by the Supreme Court. The decision to grant certiorari to this case was the last act of the term by the Supreme Court.

For more information about the Chicago Criminal Defense Attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.