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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 10 august 2022
Chicago top prosecutor: 7 convictions tied to ex-cop vacated

CHICAGO (AP) — The The lawsuits were filed on
Cook County state’s at- behalf of Armando Serrano
torney’s office on Tuesday and Jose Montanez who
said judges have vacated spent 23 years in prison be-
seven murder convictions fore they were released in
connected to a retired 2016. A key witness in their
Chicago police detective case admitted that he had
accused of framing others lied about hearing them
who were sent to prison. confess because Guevara
An eighth cases remains, had threatened to beat
pending further court pro- him if he didn’t.
ceedings. In 2009, a jury awarded $21
State’s Attorney Kim Foxx million to a man who spent
told reporters that her of- 11 years in prison before he
fice no longer will oppose was retried and acquitted
post-conviction litigation in because witnesses testified
the eight cases following a that Guevara intimidated
2019 review of cases relat- them into falsely identifying
ed to allegations of police the man as the killer. The
misconduct involving Rey- city later agreed to pay
naldo Guevara. $16.4 million.
“We no longer believe in Another jury awarded $17
the validity of these convic- million in 2018 to a man
tions or the credibility of the In this Feb. 1, 2022 file photo, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx speaks during a news who made similar allega-
evidence of these convic- conference in Chicago. Associated Press tions.
tions,” Foxx said. Foxx said Tuesday that she
The seven cases dismissed Guevara — a former mem- couldn’t remember facts, work of Detective Gue- would not discount the im-
Tuesday involved slayings ber of a police department thus forcing prosecutors to vara?” Foxx said Tuesday. pact each case had on
committed between 1989 dogged by decades of dismiss charges in several “Based on our review, we the defendants and their
and 1994. scandal, cover-ups and cases. are not able to retry these families.
Five defendants already brutality — has never been In one case, after he was cases.” “While we focused on the
have completed prison charged with a crime. Foxx granted immunity by pros- She added that additional allegations of misconduct,
sentences and are no lon- said her office is reviewing ecutors, he answered re- investigations could be we did not want to lose
ger in custody. Two others possible charges against peatedly that he didn’t conducted “to see if, in sight that lives were lost
are expected to be re- Guevara, who retired in remember confessions fact, someone else com- and the impact that our
leased, while one remains 2005 and is receiving a city that he elicited from two mitted these crimes.” decision could have on
in custody pending further police pension and a Chi- men ultimately convicted Last September, Chicago’s the families of victims who
court proceedings. cago Park District pension. of murder. The judge char- City Council agreed to pay believed that justice had
Two dozen cases already He helped inmates win acterized his comments $20.5 million to two of at been served by these con-
have been vacated and freedom by repeatedly as “bald-faced lies” and least a dozen men whose victions,” she added. “We
action on three additional invoking his constitutional threw out the confessions. murder convictions were looked at these cases with
cases is expected in the right against self-incrimi- “Could we try these cases dismissed after allegedly a careful lens to ensure that
coming weeks. nation or insisting that he again today without the being framed by Guevara. we got it right.”q

Missouri voters set to weigh in on

recreational marijuana

the state in the coming the ballot in Arkansas, North have also adopted auto-
weeks and months,” Legal- Dakota and Oklahoma. matic expungement poli-
Mo22 campaign manager Backers of the Missouri bal- cies.
John Payne said. “Missouri- lot proposal are highlight- Marijuana sales would be
ans are more than ready to ing a provision that would taxed at 6% under the Mis-
end the senseless and cost- erase past marijuana-re- souri measure. The tax is
ly prohibition of marijuana.” lated convictions for non- estimated to bring in more
Missouri voters approved violent offenders and those than $46 million during the
medical marijuana use in whose conviction didn’t first full year the amend-
2018. Efforts to allow recre- include selling to minors or ment is in effect and close
A mature marijuana plant begins to bloom under artificial lights ational marijuana use have driving while high. to $70 million the following
at Loving Kindness Farms in Gardena, Calif., May 20, 2019.
Associated Press failed to pass Missouri’s Local NAACP chapters, year. Revenues would be
Republican-led Legislature the American Civil Liberties earmarked for veterans’
By SUMMER BALLENTINE day. for years, prompting advo- Union of Missouri, criminal homes, drug treatment
Associated Press If voters approve the con- cates to go to voters for ap- defense lawyers and other programs and public de-
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A stitutional amendment on proval instead. civil rights advocacy groups fenders.
campaign to legalize rec- marijuana, those age 21 Recreational marijuana is endorsed automatic ex- Cities and other municipali-
reational marijuana in Mis- and older could buy and already legal in 19 states, pungement, and it could ties could enact local sales
souri gathered enough sig- grow it for personal con- and legalization proposals broaden support for the ini- taxes on recreational mari-
natures to make it on the sumption as early as this are on the ballot this fall in tiative among Republican juana up to 3% or enact lo-
November ballot, Republi- year. South Dakota and Mary- criminal justice advocates. cal bans on non-medical
can Secretary of State Jay “We look forward to en- land. Supporters are also Seven other states with le- marijuana sales by a public
Ashcroft announced Tues- gaging with voters across trying to get measures on gal recreational marijuana vote.q