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| VAN DYKE: What will be left of life? |
The
would-be defendants whom some are eager to see prosecuted to the maximum extent
of the law (if not beyond the extend, with the mythical “book” being thrown at
them) are none other than Alderman Edward M. Burke and former police officer
Jason Van Dyke.
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| BURKE: Does he still have a political life? |
VAN
DYKE, OF course, is the white police officer who was found guilty last year of
criminal offenses in the 2014 shooting death of a teenager who happens to be
black.
While
Burke is the long-time alderman named in a criminal complaint suggesting that
he went too far in terms of shaking down a business that wants to remodel a Gage Park neighborhood Burger King franchise.
The
very franchise, in fact, where Laquan McDonald, the black teenager, was shot
nearby on that night in ’14 when he didn’t stop fast enough to satisfy Van Dyke’s
concerns.
It
seems that federal prosecutors would like to strengthen their criminal case
against Burke by getting a grand jury to indict him on some sort of charge –
perhaps something far more significant than he currently faces.
WHICH
IS WHY attorneys were in court this week. In theory, prosecutors had until
Friday – the next scheduled court date – before they would have to put up or
shut up, so to say. Instead, an extension was granted. May 3 is now the
significant date.
A
fact that will anger those people so eager for a Burke criminal conviction that
they dream of it being the factor that knocks him out of the running for the
Feb. 26 municipal elections.
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| Legal notoriety? Or is all publicity good? |
Even
if the 14th Ward aldermanic race stretches to an April 2 run-off
(which is very likely), it means the elections will be over before we know
exactly what will become of Burke on the criminal justice front. He could easily
wind up being re-elected before actual charges are known.
It
will complicate the desires of those who just want Ed Burke out of office – and
really don’t care much about the specific details. It sort of makes it easier
for Burke to focus on campaigning for re-election if actual criminal charges
are theoretical.
AS
FOR FRIDAY in court, it now means nothing for Burke. But for those eager to see
criminal justice action that day, the focus will be solely on Van Dyke.
For
he’s the one found guilty of second degree murder and multiple counts of aggravated
battery with a firearm. Theoretically, he could get multiple sentences for each
charge that could have a minimum of 96 years in prison.
A
sentence that would appease those people eager to see a cop go to prison for what
they will forevermore see as a racially-motivated slaying. But prosecutors
admitted this week there is a way to interpret the sentencing guidelines so
that Van Dyke could theoretically get 15 years of actual prison time.
At
age 40 now, he’d be 55 upon release. Which would still allow him a chance to
have some life left in freedom – even though it will be his aging years, as the
rest of what’s left of his youth would be spent in prison somewhere.
IT
WILL BE interesting to see how Judge Vincent Gaughan interprets the law in this
case. I have no doubt everybody’s going to be outraged – from those who want Van
Dyke to get some form of probation up to those who want him to get a lengthy,
demoralizing prison term then want him to die at the hands of his fellow inmates.
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| GAUGHAN: Expected to impose sentence Friday |
Which
is a sick attitude to have, but it is one that becomes all too common amongst
the general public. The very reason why we don’t let public sentiment play too
much of a role in criminal cases.
Similar
to those who would like to see Ed Burke get hauled off to the pokey, so to speak,
as punishment for all the ideologically-motivated acts he committed throughout
his 50 years in the City Council.
Public
sentiment all too often leads to rash acts that, in and of themselves, are an
injustice.
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