* Earlier today, when I posted the story about how Bruce Rauner’s campaign has a security guy with a troubled past, the commenter “Formerly Known As…” wrote this…

If background checks have not yet been completed on every Quinn campaign staffers and vendors, they are about to.

Better buckle up as the downward spiral rages on.

* Well, buckle up, campers. From the Rauner campaign…

QUINN EMPLOYS FELON WITH 2nd DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION

In June Of 1996, Kendall Moore And Another Man Beat Damenion Burnett To Death With A Baseball Bat. “A McDonough County judge refused Friday to reduce the bonds for two men charged with beating another man to death with a baseball bat last June. Darrell Mitchell, 22, of Robbins and Kendall Moore, 22, of Chicago are charged with first-degree murder for the death of Damenion Burnett, 21, of Chicago. Police reports state Burnett was beaten by two men, one armed with a baseball bat, about 1:15 a.m. June 15 in the 700 block of Linden Lane. He died in a Peoria hospital two days later. (A. Rahim Owens, “Judge Won’t Reduce Bond In Beating Case,” State Journal-Register, 1/4/97)

Moore And Burnett Got Into A Bar Fight In Macomb Illinois In The Late Hours Of June 14, 1996. “Damenion Burnett died as a result of blunt trauma to the head. Charges of first degree murder, armed violence, aggravated battery and mob action were brought against defendant and Darrell Mitchell, who were tried jointly. Testimony at trial centered around two fights in Macomb, Illinois, on the night of June 14 and early morning hours of June 15, 1996. The State’s evidence established that defendant, Mitchell, Steve Tinch and several college friends were having drinks at the Regulator Bar around midnight, June 14. Defendant and his companions belonged to a social fraternity known as the Omega Psi Phi fraternity (Q-dogs), which was affiliated with the Zeta Phi Beta sorority (Zetas). Members of both groups were in the bar, as well as other non-affiliated friends from the neighborhood. Eileen Tarjan and her boyfriend, Damenion Burnett, were not Zetas or Q-dogs but socialized with them. As the bar was closing, a Zeta accused Tarjan of burning her with a cigarette. The confrontation between the two women erupted into a fight which spilled out into the street. Defendant and Mitchell entered the melee, along with Burnett and his friends, Mike Hawkins and Delrico Nelson. The fight ended abruptly and the crowd dispersed when Hawkins fired two shots into the air from a nine-millimeter semi-automatic gun.” (People v. Moore, No. 4-97-0759, Opinion, 12/4/98)

Moore Followed Burnett To His Girlfriend’s Apartment And Beat Him With A Baseball Bat. “Hawkins’ gun was handed to Nelson as they drove away from the bar. Nelson next met Burnett at the apartment in Villa Westbrook where Tarjan and Burnett stayed. Defendant, Mitchell and Tinch went to Mitchell’s apartment in Villa Westbrook, one floor above Tarjan’s. Defendant took a baseball bat into Tarjan’s apartment and banged it on a stereo speaker. He was asked to leave, and he did. Burnett and Nelson started to fight with Tinch. Nelson retreated, and the confrontation between Tinch and Burnett moved outside, where Mitchell and defendant joined in. Tarjan testified that she saw defendant and another man fighting with Burnett. She said that Burnett was unarmed and was trying to stand while the two men beat him. She could not see if a weapon was used in the fight, but she saw Nelson fire a couple of shots into the air and the grass before she left the scene with a friend. On cross-examination, Tarjan admitted that she had lied to the police when she told them she neither saw nor heard any shooting outside her apartment. Nelson testified that he stood outside the apartment building and watched the fight. He said defendant went to his truck and returned with a bat to fight with Tinch and Mitchell against Burnett. He saw defendant club Burnett in the head. After Burnett fell, defendant struck again while Mitchell kicked and stomped on Burnett. Nelson yelled, “Stop!” and fired two shots into the ground and another into the air. Other witnesses heard between four and eight shots. Nelson said the fight was still in progress when he heard police sirens. He dropped the gun and ran from the scene.” (People v. Moore, No. 4-97-0759, Opinion, 12/4/98)

Burnett Was Declared Brain Dead A Day Later – He Suffered A Fractured Skull, Both Sides Of His Jaw Were Broken And His Liver Was Lacerated. “Burnett was declared brain dead on June 17, 1996. In addition to a fractured skull, both sides of his jaw were broken and his liver was lacerated.” (People v. Moore, No. 4-97-0759, Opinion, 12/4/98)

Kendall Moore, Of 835 Maple Rd, Flossmoor IL Appears On Taxpayers For Quinn’s Payroll. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 9/12/14)

And away we go…

*** UPDATE *** The Quinn campaign sent over Moore’s bio from his WVON page…

Kendall Moore’s career in TV and radio dates back to the 1980s when he was one of the youngest DJs to mix records at a major radio station. Moore developed and honed his on-air personality on 89.3 WIUS College Radio for Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois. Moore became popular due to his quick wit, mannish style and ability to recognize new talent; he was a force to reckon with on the college radio circuit.

Moore’s commitment to informing and helping people lead him to work of the City of Chicago’s Department of Health. During his time with DOH, Moore assisted in the development and implementation of a city-wide program which provided re-entry services to former and recently released inmates. Becoming aware and sensitive to the struggles of people reentering society, Moore became a national and international orator, speaking on the hardships that follow incarceration and what is needed to once again become a productive member of society.

This power and real conversation took Moore throughout the United States, including Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia; The National Minority AIDS Council located in Washington, D.C.; Centerforce in Oakland, California, a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the lives and communities of incarcerated people; and Rikers Island Correctional Facility in Queens, New York. His international engagement repertoire includes many countries, but Moore spent considerable time in South Africa, speaking about real life, real crime and the realities of American life for criminals.

Moore’s broadcasting resume includes serving as a host on Chicago’s CAN TV, and remains a popular and in demand host and speaker. Moore’s goal is to be the voice of the next generation of WVON politicians, community activists, entrepreneurs and entertainers.

Looks like he’s rehabilitated himself and then some. I’ve asked the Rauner campaign what they plan to do about their own guy. I’ll let you know.