And it begins
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WTTW…
During the very first initial appearance hearing in Cook County, 24-year-old Esmeralda Aguilar was released with conditions following her arrest on four felony charges of aggravated battery to a peace officer.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Lorraine Scaduto, Aguilar was attending the Mexican Independence Day festivities in the 200 block of North Wabash at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday when she allegedly pulled out a canister of pepper spray and sprayed it at four Chicago police officers.
This was captured on body camera video, Scaduto said, adding that three of the officers required hospitalization, while a fourth suffered pain and discomfort, but did not seek immediate medical treatment.
Aguilar’s public defender noted that this was her first Chicago arrest and that she is the sole provider for a young child. Prosecutors did not seek to detain her in jail pre-trial, so Marubio released her with some set conditions, including that she appear for all her hearings and does not commit another crime.
“You need to be in court on time every time,” Marubio said, noting that if Aguilar violated her release order, it would be revoked and she would be taken back into custody.
* Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran…
“Reports that on the very first day of no cash bail, a violent offender arrested for attacking four Chicago Police Officers, sending two of them to the hospital, was immediately released because the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office didn’t even bother to file a motion to seek detaining the accused are problematic. This highlights the misplaced priorities of Illinois’ criminal justice system when the prosecutor prioritizes the freedom of a violent offender over the safety of those police officers dedicated to protecting and serving our communities. Is there any wonder why police recruitment is at an all-time low in this state?”
Are we assuming she wouldn’t have been offered bail under the old system?
…Adding… Will has covered bond court for years, so he knows whereof he speaks…