Really solid breakdown of the disparity in Cook County's charging decisions. The contrast between treating a loaded gun during an armed carjacking as a misdemeanor while hitting a lawful carrier with a felony for hotel storage is absurd. The victim's quick thinking here probably saved his life, but the three-year release window after a 10-year sentance is pretty wild.
I don't know whether the victim's thinking here saved his life -- he could have just stayed in the house -- but it ensured that criminal activity was reduced, as happens any time there's a penalty to be paid by the criminal.
Regarding the length of sentence, I figure he was in jail for 18 months and probably got credit for time served, so we're really talking about ~4.5 years total time served. But that seems like not very much for a 10-year sentence, as you point out.
Really solid breakdown of the disparity in Cook County's charging decisions. The contrast between treating a loaded gun during an armed carjacking as a misdemeanor while hitting a lawful carrier with a felony for hotel storage is absurd. The victim's quick thinking here probably saved his life, but the three-year release window after a 10-year sentance is pretty wild.
Yeah, Boch was smart to note the disparity.
I don't know whether the victim's thinking here saved his life -- he could have just stayed in the house -- but it ensured that criminal activity was reduced, as happens any time there's a penalty to be paid by the criminal.
Regarding the length of sentence, I figure he was in jail for 18 months and probably got credit for time served, so we're really talking about ~4.5 years total time served. But that seems like not very much for a 10-year sentence, as you point out.