Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog

May 6, 2020

Former Chicago Public School Chief Released from Camp Cupcake

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the former Chicago Public School Chief who pleaded guilty to corruption and fraud charges and was sent to federal prison Camp Alderson in West Virginia, has recently been moved to a new facility. The 70-year-old Byrd-Bennett was sent to a residential reentry management facility that oversees halfway houses in Cincinnati.

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed the move but otherwise declined comment on why the move occurred when it did. Camp Alderson had been nicknamed Camp Cupcake after Martha Stewart’s stay there several years ago.

The Crime

May 1, 2020

Chicago Father Faces Charges After Son Shoots Himself in Hand

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

A Chicago-area father is facing charges after his son shot himself in the hand with a household gun. Bernard Shields, 36, of Chicago is facing a felony charge of being a habitual criminal in possession of a weapon with a filed-off serial number. He is also facing a felony count of possession of a controlled substance and several misdemeanor counts related to the discharge of the weapon and child endangerment.

What Happened?

The parents were asleep when the boy found the gun in one of his father’s pants. Anyone who owns a gun should know better than to keep it in their pants when there are children around. He took the gun to the bathroom, ostensibly to play with it, and the gun discharged, injuring his hand. The child was taken to Children’s Hospital where he was treated for his injuries and then sent home. His father fled the scene knowing that police would be arriving shortly, but was later found and arrested.

April 29, 2020

Bail Charities Under Fire as Released Commit New Crimes

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

There has been a great deal of discussion recently over the role bail plays in American society. Political pundits who are rallying against bail reform cite instances of re-offense while the suspect is awaiting charges for another crime. Political pundits in favor of bail reform argue that the system is patently unfair and individuals charged with nonviolent crimes rot in jail for a year while the wheels of justice slowly turn.

Now, one charity is being scrutinized by the media after providing bail to inmates who then turned around and offended again.

Habitual Criminal Activity

April 24, 2020

County Jail Detainees Charged With Attempted Murder of Guard

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Two Cook County detainees are being charged with attempted murder after an attack that left one guard hospitalized and two others injured. The attack occurred on April 14 during the height of the coronavirus lockdown. Dante Jeffries and Sharelle Sims were in the jail’s most secure wing. They have been charged with attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, and possession of contraband. The two will be arraigned on May 5.

What Happened?

A jail officer had allowed Jeffries to leave his cell to get a cup of water. After he got his drink, the prison guard says that Jeffries attacked him from behind and dragged him into his cell. The officer managed to fight his way out of the cell, but Jeffries again attacked him, placing him in a chokehold until he lost consciousness.

April 22, 2020

Some Detainees Get Released From Jail Amid COVID-19 Fears

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Those who are in prison awaiting trial for crimes for which they have been accused are considered innocent until proven guilty. Yet the law has a vested interest in holding some detainees until trial—especially if they are considered either flight risks or a danger to the community.

Despite that, one Chicago criminal defense attorney was able to get over a dozen Chicago inmates released amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Prisons and Jails are Responsible for Inmate Safety

April 17, 2020

Cases of Domestic Violence Spike During Quarantine

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Last week, Kim Foxx announced that she would be shutting down operations for the domestic violence courthouse for 14 days after one of the employees tested positive for COVID-19. This is despite the fact that there has been a spike in domestic violence complaints during the shutdown.

As of the writing of this blog post, prosecutors had stopped hearing domestic violence cases in all but the most violent or dangerous of situations. The office assured those in difficult situations that they were setting up a means to field complaints by phone. Those in dangerous situations are currently advised to petition judges in civil court for injunctions, restraining orders, and more.

An Uptick Domestic Violence Hotline Calls

April 15, 2020

Man on Parole for Shooting Accused of Murder

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

You do not need to have a law degree to know that shooting someone while on parole is a parole violation. Nonetheless, Kyle S. Carter was accused of this crime after a drug deal went sour at an Aldi grocery store on Chicago’s west side.

Carter has now been charged with first-degree murder, possession of more than 15 grams of cocaine, and armed robbery. If convicted, he will most likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.

What Happened?

April 10, 2020

COVID-19 Bail Motions in the Age of Quarantine

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Both Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly have filed motions with the court for temporary release during the coronavirus outbreak citing health hazards. Weinstein and Kelly are both older with Weinstein being the more vulnerable of the two due to a recent surgery and more advanced age. Both were denied bail by the courts.

But can others be expected to get their bail denied during the COVID-19 outbreak?

The Virus is a Problem for Prisons

April 8, 2020

Pregnant Chicago Teen Murdered After Testifying at Trial

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Treja Kelley was asked to take the stand against the man who had killed her cousin. After she helped the state secure a guilty verdict, a $5,000 bounty was placed on her head. A few months after she testified, Kelley was shot and killed. She was 18 years old, and she was pregnant.

The man who is accused of killing her, Kevarian Rogers, allegedly bragged about “nailing the girl” who testified against somebody. Rogers is now facing first-degree murder charges for the death of the young woman.

Social Media Posts Will be Used to Convict Him

April 3, 2020

Kelly Asks Court to Release Him Amid Coronavirus Fears

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

R. Kelly has been denied a request to seek release from jail during the coronavirus outbreak. The disgraced singer’s attorneys filed a request for bond with the U.S. District Court in Chicago. Attorneys for Kelly claimed that because of his advanced age (53) he was at high risk of contracting and suffering severe symptoms of the coronavirus. Kelly’s attorneys also stated that hand sanitizer and soap are difficult to find at the present moment and that inmates are kept in small cells and are not practicing social distancing.

Nonetheless, the court rejected Kelly’s request and the embattled pop star is not elderly enough to be considered in the high-risk group. Kelly had also undergone a recent surgery for a hernia, but the court ruled that it did not place him in a substantially higher risk group than others. Lastly, federal authorities reported that the prison has enough soap and hand sanitizer for everyone. The final nail in the coffin was that there were no reports of the virus among inmates.

Prosecutors Cite Kelly as a Flight Risk