Black Lives Matter in Lake County needed to scrap plans this yr for a standard Thanksgiving turkey and ham giveaway, together with taking underserved youngsters on a school-break subject journey, as a result of its co-founder Clyde McLemore is headed to jail to serve a negotiated 40-day sentence for contempt of court docket, beginning Wednesday.
The misdemeanor cost stemmed from his taking cellular phone images throughout a Lake County court docket listening to in August and posting them on social media. McLemore, 65, additionally posted a video admitting to the breach in protocol. Though he had a press go, he was not correctly credentialed by means of court docket companies, authorities mentioned.
Standing orders for the county’s courtrooms don’t allow pictures except approved by the presiding decide The listening to concerned former Waukegan police officer Dante Salinas, who faces second-degree homicide and involuntary manslaughter fees within the October 2020 taking pictures loss of life of Marcellus Stinnette.
“It took almost one yr for this police officer to be charged, and it was a name for justice to the group,” McLemore mentioned. “They mentioned I used to be making an attempt to incite a riot by posting the images, and telling folks they should get up to what’s occurring. Police shootings and wrongful convictions haven’t been addressed by the state’s legal professional, as promised”
McLemore was seen taking the images by a county State’s Legal professional’s Workplace sufferer witness specialist. In consequence, county prosecutors recused themselves and requested a particular prosecutor be assigned to deal with the case.
An announcement, issued by Lake County State’s Legal professional Eric Rinehart, mentioned, “Our workplace has a crucial witness who’s an worker, which led us to refraining from dealing with any hearings or trials. This was executed to guard the integrity of the authorized proceedings. This worker’s position as a witness didn’t have an effect on our determination to cost Mr. McLemore, as the worker’s position was not that of a sufferer.
“We charged Mr. McLemore based mostly on the circumstances surrounding his habits,” Rinehart mentioned. “After making this determination, we recused ourselves and handed the case over to the McHenry County State’s Legal professional’s Workplace to make sure transparency. That is according to our workplace’s protocols. We can’t remark any additional on the main points of this case.”
McHenry County State’s Legal professional Patrick Kenneally mentioned, “He (Rinehart) had a battle of curiosity, so we accepted the case. The allegation was taking footage in a closed courtroom. He was charged with contempt, footage had been posted. It was a negotiated plea. I’m pleased to resolve this and not using a trial.”
Initially, prosecutors sought a sentence of six months in jail. Negotiations continued in McLemore’s absence as a result of he was having well being issues.
“I believed 150 days was too extreme,” McLemore’s protection legal professional, ReneaRose Amen, mentioned. “Negotiations with the state’s legal professional arrived at 40 days.”
Lake County Circuit Court docket Choose Daniel Shanes presided over an Oct. 16 listening to to simply accept the plea settlement. The 40-day sentence carries a “day for day” provision, permitting launch after 20 days for good habits.
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