Slain girl's father stripped by cops

[Judi Lynn]

Slain girl's father stripped by cops
Photos taken to show suspect not abused

By Hal Dardick, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporter Jeff Coen contributed to this report
Published August 6, 2005


After Kevin Fox allegedly implicated himself in his 3-year-old daughter's murder, he was stripped and photographed by Will County law enforcers, says the federal civil rights lawsuit filed on his behalf.

Officials confirmed the photographs were taken to show Fox was not abused during his 14-hour, 20-minute interrogation, which ended with his arrest and a nearly eight-month stint in the County Jail before DNA test results set him free.

The lawsuit says that taking photographs of naked defendants "was standard protocol" under former State's Atty. Jeff Tomczak, a practice that has since been rejected by Tomczak's successor, James Glasgow.

Tomczak on Friday said he never ordered the practice.
(snip/...)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0508060072aug06,1,4679263.story?coll=chi-technology-hed
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[truthisfreedom]

1. Amerika is now a foreign country.

one of those we despised in my youth.

welcome, citizens.

[pretzel4gore]

3. it's happening everywhere!

don't worry, despite the talk, canada aint far behind in bushevik mentality. SOMETHING must be done about pigmedia! Talk radio in canada is almost totally ratwing...the media establish the atmosphere that cops, prosecs, judges and juries/politicians then act in.....the more 'liberal' that atmosphere, the less room the enforcers of the law have to abuse their position...
-a high school is raided by fully armed swat team, seeking marajuwanna in lockers, at the invite of nazipoo principal
-a group of girls at a prom are forced to expose their underwear to promgoers by their nazipoo principal, and those wearing 'thongs' sent home
-a guy in north carolina sentenced to 10 years for having hand drawn pics of kids in his diary, the pics appeared to be porno!
-a highschool football team is forced to take polygraph after a weekend party, all the players except the 3 who admit drinking beer at party and fail polygraph are suspended from school; the parents of guilty kids cry at the news! (too much reagan and rambo maybe)
-the man convicted of raping etc a young girl and chopping her arms off 'larry singleton' is released from jail and his whereabout hidden from public after earlier outcry from californians that they didn't want the bushpig anyewhere near their daughters, so parole office hides news of when where singleton is released to. some time later singleton is caught with the body of woman he had murdered...
-an 11 year old boy is tasered by frightened policey men
-a 5 year old is handcuffed by no nosense policey men
etcetera ad nazism

there should be a website devoted to examples of the bushevik mind at work when it's given a bit of rein in enforcing the law...

[EST]

4. Fascinating writing style!

[Judi Lynn]

6. Ad nazism, good one! The old memory lane is a little creepy, isn't it? n/t

[SlavesandBulldozers]

13. nice post

:thumbsup:

you remind me a bit of tom_paine, who I havent seen around in some time.

[pretzel4gore]

14. it's easy to get disgusted, i guess...

i recall reading how the aztecs/incas felt helpless when their emperors were captured/knocked out.....still, had even one respected official somehow saw the sitution clearly, history could have been different...The american people are immensely powerful, but the righteous psych-op that has brought figgerheads like reagan, and, after some seasoning, bush the junior, to 'power' and even seeing schools, airports, warships etc named after men who've effectively transferred ownership of america from the people to the interests....and it's overwhelming, like seeing a prodigal reading a book while strolling across a busy freeway. Ignorance has always been the deadliest enemy to sensible response, but whoever could have imagined it would be so well educated, so well fed, so well groomed and articulate and so lucky?
there must be legions of tom_paines now raising blueberries

[Conservativesux]

12. Trickle down fascism. I've been pulled over to "see my papers" in my car..

twice in the past 6 month on bullshit reasons (crossed the line "back there" and tail-light a little dim; I didn't and it wasnt'.)

They ask if you have been drinking, check your license/insurance ask you if you have ever been arrested, almost like having a check point without the signs, dogs and cones.

Anyone else seeing this behavior in the police forces lately?

[ixion]

2. Guilty until proven innocent

what a wonderful world the neocons and dominionists have created.

It's interesting that they always blather on about 'Building the Kingdom of God' on Earth.

Apparently, God really digs:

-- full body cavity searches.

-- long incarcerations and torture of innocent people.

-- Draconian faux morality laws that do nothing but jail non-violent people and destroy lives.

-- a rabid set of followers who kill at the drop of a hat.



Freedom and xianity on the march. :eyes:

[teryang]

5. My child was the victim of a crime

She was served with a subpoena thursday morning at 7:00 am while I was in the shower. The deputy sheriff beat on the door like he was going to break it down. We don't open the door for strangers. We have a doorbell. He didn't use it. When my wife finally opened the door he was loud, commanding, and abusive.

When I told him from inside the house, dripping and naked other than in a towel, we accept the subpoena, he continued to holler and say he didn't care whether we accepted the subpoena, he was leaving it anyway. (My 105 pound wife was in her pajamas.) When I told him I knew that because I was a criminal defense attorney, he finally shut up and went away. The ironic thing was that the subpoena was from a prosecutor that was a personal friend of mine and the court was one I work in on a regular basis.

I have no illusions about how the criminal justice system works in this country. I won a rape trial yesterday and everyone said aren't you happy? I wasn't really because my clients get the bums rush to justice, I don't have time to represent them effectively, and only a superhuman effort on my part which I am poorly paid for enables me to do anything for my clients. In fact, by taking cases to trial, I'm hurting my ability to assist those who don't go to trial and are facing a draconion sentencing regime.

People who go to trial and lose are "maxed out" on sentencing. Everyone knows you are penalized for going to trial if you lose even though it is unconstitutional if the judge says it on the record. So they don't say it, they just do it.

[lateo]

7. Indeed...

Our "Justice" system is getting bent out of shape.

[MADem]

8. Justice is rapidly becoming "just IS"

Unless and until we can cleanse the country of thugs in power, this will be the way it JUST IS....

[FormerOstrich]

9. A friend of mine works.

in a public defenders office. The stories she tells are shocking. From cops that think they are above the law and zealous prosecuters... She says the same thing as you about trials, but she still takes more cases to trial than anyone else in the office.

I say; Good Work to both of you!! We need more of you!!

[BiggJawn]

10. He "didn't care...."

"...whether we accepted the subpoena, he was leaving it anyway. "

Not the sharpest chisel in the toolchest, was he?

[H5N1]

11. that is extra disheartening, coming from you

You are one of the sharpest fellows I have ever come across.
You don't post unless you have something to say, and then
you state your case succintly without over dramatization.

When you use the phrase 'draconian sentencing regime,'
I know we are in trouble.

[bitchkitty]

20. Thank you for being here -

I love lawyers, sometimes they're the only things standing between "us" and "them."

[Evergreen Emerald]

15. I am a prosecutor

I prosecute sex offenses and crimes against children. As I read these posts in which the writers vilify prosecutors and police (and give sainthood to defense attorneys) I feel the need to defend myself and provide a dose of reality. My job is to do justice for victims and for the state. I am not out to put innocent people away. I am not overly 'zealous' in doing my job.

I had a trial recently in which an 11 year old boy had been routinely beaten and raped by his father for many years. His father demanded his right to have the allegations proven by a jury. He does have that right. And in exercising that right he put his son on the stand and forced him to tell his horrific tale to a room of strangers and in front of his father--the man that threatened to kill him if he told of his rapes and the man of which he is terrified. His father's attorney cross-examined that little boy as if he were the devil. He called him crazy / a liar / and every other thing he could think of in an effort to avoid conviction.

His father had failed a polygraph (which will never get into court). His father admitted to the rapes (which did get into court).

Daconian sentencing? This boy will never be normal. This boy has a life sentencing. There is no sentence that his father could receive that would do justice. The best we can ask for is that he stays in prison long enough for his son to grow up without having to look behind every corner in fear.

I had another case in which a 14 year old girl dislosed that her father comes into her room at night and rapes her. After an investigation he was charged with the rapes. His defense attorney visited the child's home and talked to her about how her father's life would be ruined by a conviction. He successfully (after an all day visit with the victim) got her to recant. She refused to cooperate, and we were forced to dismiss. The defense attorney did a nice job of helping his client to avoid conviction--at what cost to this child?

I had another case in which a stepfather admitted to the police that he raped his stepdaughter. And although he has been in the country for 15 years (working and living) he pretended that he did not understand english enough to knowingly waive his right to silence. His confession did not get into court. His defense attorney did a good job of getting the confession away from the jury--and the truth along with it.

My most recent case involved an assault of a 7 year old girl. The mom's boyfriend got mad because she did not close the window quickly enough for him. When she went to the neighbor's she had a shoe print on her face. Later she had marks that looked like belt whippings on her back. She told the neighbor what happened. By the time the police arrived, the suspect had taken her home and we suspect that he threatened her into silence. She said she lied to the neighbor.

The defense attorneys will do their best--not to get to the truth, but to zealously help their client to avoid conviction by denoucing this little threatened girl's credibility. At what cost to this little girl?

I do my best to achieve justice for the victims in a system heavily weighted in favor of defendants. And I believe in our system of justice. But, when I hear comments like the responses on this thread I get a bit angry.

[vard28]

16. As someone else with knowledge of law enforcement...

... officers and prosecutors, I have to commend Evergreen's posting. There are plenty of good cops and prosecutors out there. Unfortunately, we usually just hear about the bad ones and what they may, or actually may not, have done. There are always two sides to a story; yeah, I know it is corny, but it really is true. And Jesus, Pete... there are a LOT of liars in the world.

I get tired of police and prosecutor bashing. Those cops and lawyers live in a time where they have to cover their asses every second of the day because of sue-happy, greedy, lying jerks who might actually be trying to divert attention from what they've done and make accusations agains the good guys.

Before you slam me, please know that I do NOT in any way condone the behavior of a low percentage of the bad apples in the bushel. I just wish people would not lump these types together automatically. Remember that if (and I am NOT wishing this on anyone) you ever have to report to a cop that it's your child, grandchild, niece, sister, or mother that gets raped, tortured or killed. For the most part, these people truly are there to help to uphold the law in the best way they know how.

Rant off... please feel free to carry on. :rant:

[LincolnMcGrath]

19. As a prosecuter you must know Polygraphs are worthless.

I am not defending any of the cases you stated above, BTW.

[Speed8098]

21. Your work is appreciated

But this statement worries me.

The defense attorneys will do their best--not to get to the truth, but to zealously help their client to avoid conviction by denouncing this little threatened girl's credibility. At what cost to this little girl?

What is your alternative?
Do you think we should not have defense attorneys?
What if the little girl is lying?

Do you prosecute any other type of cases or are you strictly assigned child abuse cases?

Have you ever prosecuted someone for possession of marijuana?
Not trafficking, possession.

How did you feel about that?

Are you 100% positive that each and every person you have convicted is guilty?

The problem is not the righteous prosecutions that happen everyday.
It's the ones that are not so righteous that worry me.

How would you feel if you prosecuted a death penalty case before DNA and found out today that you were wrong?

Our justice system sucks. If you are poor, you lose.
Judicial reform is needed immediately.

"It is better that ten guilty escape than one innocent suffer."
William Blackstone

[Evergreen Emerald]

23. I think there can be zealous representation without lying to the jury

That is my point. And it was in response to the comment regarding the overzealousness of police and prosecutors. Most police and prosecutors work hard to do the best they can. Are there a few bad apples? Of course. There are also a few bad apples in the defense attorney barrel.

What is the alternative, you ask: our system of government is adversarial, with the idea that through adversary we will get to the truth. My alternative is for all to follow the rules of professional conduct. The point of our justice system is to find the truth. Not to lie to the jury. Not to sneak to a victim's home to talk to her about how horrible she is to her rapist father for telling on him.

I agree with the quote by Blackstone. The basis for our system of government is to protect the rights of everyone. Unfortunately, the cost to the victims is so high when a guilty child molester goes free.

What if that little girl was lying, you ask: she was not.

Am I 100% positive that everyone I convicted was guilty: yes. If I think there is a possibility that his is not guilty, I will dismiss the charge. I see all the evidence--including the stuff that the jury will never see. And, as I said, my goal is not to convict innocent people but to protect people. So, if I see something that causes me to question anything, I cannot in good conscience prosecute.

You ask if I prosecute any other cases: I currently prosecute crimes against persons. When I first started as a prosecutor, I handled all kinds of cases. I have convicted some of possession of marijuana (the two that come to mind are kids who smoked pot at school). I am perfectly comfortable giving those kids consequences for their bad actions. They got probation / community service / and evaluated for issues of substance abuse.

You ask how I would feel if it was discovered that someone I convicted was innocent: it would be terrible. It would be hard to reconcile that ideal I have of protecting people and of doing justice. That is why I am so careful.

[teryang]

22. The justice system is unbalanced right now with respect to ....

...sex offenders. You can always score political points by passing some new more stringent restrictions on sex offenders. Many professionals, prosecutors, police, and probation officers know that sex offenders whether true recidivists or not are going to prison because they have been legislated out of civil existence after they have already done their specified prison sentence. Ranting about child sex offenders is preaching to the choir.

The zoning restrictions placed upon them by local governments give them no place to live. Without a place to live they are in violation of conditions of release from prison or probation. Result you must go back to prison. When the maximum time in prison expires, then they face Jimmy Rice civil commitment in a civil prison, basically for the rest of their lives. If the country wants to send sex offenders to prison for life, why not just legislate it now and stop the political grandstanding?

This approach is just irrational and politically motivated. Interesting that any criticism of the police results in reducing the discussion to whether you or for or against police and prosecutors. I think the prosecutors I know are quite aware they are overburdened with work and their cases don't get much attention unless they are going to trial. My discussion began with the difficulty of rude and abusive police. This is a common problem. Fortunately, many jurors are familiar with it.

[loudsue]

17. I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the defenders and prosecutors

in this thread who have, against difficult odds, tried to do their over-burdened jobs with integrity and empathy! O8) You folks are why some of us REALLY MISS living in a land of laws and justice that protect all of us equally. No, it was NEVER "perfect". But these days, it has become especially difficult for those in law, and law enforcement, who are truly decent people.

Just as the rest of us are now, individually, doing the jobs that formerly employed five or six people, so are those people who are honestly trying to protect us. The new "employment" meme is that, if six people can do a great job, one person can do the job of all of them well enough to slide by.

We're ALL in this same boat! And until we can get rid of republican "values" once and for all, we're going to have more and more of this. And, eventually, we or someone we know & love is going to suffer for it.

It's REPUBLICANS. And it's got to stop.

:kick::kick::kick:

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

18. ugh, sickening...but it happens all the time

Wake up, sheeple!