Sen. Trotter pleads to misdemeanor
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Nobody was hurt, nobody was ever in any danger, so felony charges were absurd. The Cook County courts have enough real criminals to deal with, so this was the right decision by the state’s attorney…
State Sen. Donne Trotter was sentenced to one year of court supervision Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct for trying to bring a gun onto an airplane at O’Hare Airport. […]
As part of the plea deal, Trotter has to perform 60 hours of community service. He also plans on talking about gun safety while serving his sentence, Trotter’s attorney, Thomas Durkin, said.
Durkin said the state’s attorney’s disposition to reduce the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor was “fair and appropriate.”
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:52 am:
Good
- RonOglesby - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:53 am:
I agree. Mistakes happen, BUT you have to hope that regular citizens with no criminal record would get the same treatment should they make the same mistake… Not always the case with that States Attorney.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:56 am:
===have to hope that regular citizens with no criminal record ===
These things get kicked all the time for “regular people,” man. Trotter’s real problem was that he was a public official busted when Alvarez was dealing with the Daley nephew scandal and her disastrous 60 Minutes interview.
- Leave a Light on George - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
Trying to bring a gun on an airplane these days is a big deal no matter what the State’s Attorney has on their plate.
The out come however is appropriate to this case.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:02 pm:
Well, I’ll sleep easier tonite knowing another hardened criminal has been dealt with
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:09 pm:
LOL, Schnorf. Good one.
- Fair Share - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
What did the State’s Attorney do with the flight attendant who mistakenly brought the gun her husband left in her bag on board?
- Quinn T. Sential - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:14 pm:
Any word on peeling back the curtain on the “Security Guard” claim?
In the end it may be another classic example of “not the crime, but the cover up” that ends being his greater concern here.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:14 pm:
A very embarrasing episode for the Sen. is over.
And my husband tells me I pack too much stuff when we fly…at least I leave the heat at home. (Just kidding!)
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:14 pm:
QTS, from what I gather that was investigated by the grand jury and dropped.
- Happy Returns - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:15 pm:
It’s all good, Skillicorn- I hear the new CCW law will explicitly forbid straw men from eligibility for a permit.
- unspun - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
The felony charge was ridiculous in the first place.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:43 pm:
Is part of the settlement that he gives up his permit to carry a firearm?
That should have been the starting point for any deal.
- shore - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:50 pm:
Trib/SunTimes/Whatever that group andy shaw runs needs to create a meter on their front page of days since an Illinois politician was indicted/convicted for a crime and the number of state reps/senators/alderman/ect convicted/indicted since Blago went away like the rooftop next to wrigley that tracks years since playoffs, pennant and world series wins.
- Ken_in_Aurora - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:56 pm:
I think this was an appropriate outcome. Intent should always be a factor in the disposition, and I sincerely doubt the Senator intended to bring his mousegun on the flight.
- Left Leaner - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:09 pm:
Good decision. But the real verdict was made months ago when this exited Senator Trotter from the 2nd Congressional district race. That could have been a very different race with him in it.
Timing.Is.Everything.
- reformer - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 2:57 pm:
I googled and didn’t find any disposition for the 65-year-old flight attendant, Sheila A. Schultz, who was arrested in November at O’Hare with her husband’s handgun in a travel bag. She was also charged with a felony. We’ll see if she gets the same break as the good Senator.
- Boat captain - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:11 pm:
Don’t know about his permit but according to his attorney he is not allowed to have a gun during his twelve month supervision.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 5:17 pm:
@Orzo:
What story? As Rich said, it was investigated already and no action came of it from the Grand Jury. Also, the Security Guard thing wasn’t a defense against the charges. It was an explanation as to why he had the gun and an attempt to explain that he had forgotten he had it with him still. Guilt was never in question so why would he not plead guilty to a lesser charge and move on with his life? There is always somebody trying to make something bigger than it actually is. The incident is now over. Move on.