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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 11 august 2017
Boss of violent Chicago Hobos gang sentenced to 40 years

By MICHAEL TARM tion for brutality to maintain entrepreneurial mind. “He Prosecutors had asked for the killings because he nev-
AP Legal Affairs Writer their criminal empire. made a choice to use a life sentence. Assistant er actually pulled a trigger.
CHICAGO (AP) — A judge In a brief statement just be- those talents to advance U.S. Attorney Patrick Ot- At the same time, Tharp
Thursday sentenced the fore the sentence was pro- the cause of evil,” the lewski told the judge that said Chester knew what the
boss of one of Chicago’s nounced, judge said. Chester was “unrepentant other gang members were
most violent street gangs Chester apologized for Chester was the first of the and a disease to society.” up to, had “embraced the
to 40 years behind bars, what he called “my behav- Hobos to be sentenced Defense attorney Beau murder and mayhem” and
saying the Hobos boss ior” and appealed to U.S. since jurors convicted six in Brindley had requested a profited from it.
had used his many talents District Judge John Tharp January of a racketeering 20-year term, portraying his Chester’s lavish spending
“to advance the cause of to “Please have mercy on conspiracy that involved client as primarily a drug included $645,000 at a ca-
evil.” me.” at least six slayings, includ- dealer. sino in Hammond, Indiana,
Gregory “Bowlegs” Ches- Minutes later, Tharp said ing the 2013 shooting of a “That does not a life sen- according to prosecutors.
ter, 40, led the South Side Chester, who grew up in star government witness, tence make,” he added. His lieutenants once stole
gang that prosecutors poverty coping with a de- Keith Daniels, in front of his Tharp said he seriously con- a $200,000 gold chain from
described as an “all-star formity that badly bowed two small stepchildren as sidered a life sentence, but then-NBA player Bobby
team” of thieves and killers his legs, had squandered they screamed a few feet concluded Chester had Simmons at gun-point out-
who cultivated a reputa- his clear intelligence and away. marginally less blame for side a nightclub.q
Prosecutor: Police justified in shooting of Arkansas teen

officers. enforcement officers had
Prosecuting Attorney Scott the gun he brandished
Ellington on Wednesday re- been a firearm, as was
leased body camera foot- perceived by the respond-
age that shows 16-year-old ing officers, and I cannot
Aries Clark was holding and find that the officers acted
raising what appeared to criminally,” Ellington wrote.
be a pistol on July 25 out- “Therefore, I find the of-
side East Arkansas Youth ficers were justified under
Services in Marion. these circumstances and
The officers “ordered, ca- no criminal charges will be
joled, encouraged and filed in the matter.”
begged” Clark to get rid of The teenager’s grandmoth-
the gun, Ellington wrote in er, Vickie Burks, disagreed
a letter to the head of Ar- and said her grandson
kansas State Police, which wasn’t violent.
investigated the shooting. “I think it’s unfair and un-
In one video, an officer can reasonable,” Burks said. “If
be heard promising to put you’re a trained police of-
his gun down if Clark drops ficer, you can injure some-
his, telling the teen: “You’re one and not kill them.”
somebody’s kid, man. We An attorney said the Clark
don’t want to do this.” family had not been con-
In this image from a July 25, 2017 police body camera video released by District Prosecuting At- Ellington said the two offi- tacted by authorities about
torney’s Office, Aries Clark, 16, holds a black BB gun that looked like a handgun before he was cers who fired their weap- the decision. Attorney Kim
shot in Marion, Ark. Two eastern Arkansas police officers won’t face charges in the fatal shooting ons — Brannon Hinkle and Cole said the family had
of a black teenager outside an emergency youth shelter, a prosecutor said Wednesday, Aug. 9,
2017. Wesley Smith — were justi- not viewed the footage re-
(District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office via AP) fied in using lethal force. leased, but said her office
Both officers are white. had begun to review it.
By ANDREW DeMILLO BB gun that looked like a youth center in eastern Ar- “Clark’s actions that day “We will proceed with our
Associated Press handgun at police before kansas, a prosecutor said brought about the circum- independent investigation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A he was fatally shot by offi- in announcing no charges stances that threatened and continue our review of
black teenager pointed a cers outside an emergency would be filed against the the lives of at least four law the footage. q

Rural California sheriff, auditor spar on pot money spending

By PAUL ELIAS reational cannabis sales declined further comment. to permit medical marijua- who vowed to repeal the
Associated Press becomes legal in Califor- California counties and cit- na farmers who pay $5,000 ordinance and ban all
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A nia. ies have been wrangling application fees and pass marijuana operations.
California county auditor Calaveras County sheriff with whether to allow rec- background checks. But their plan to repeal
is accusing a sheriff of im- Rick DiBasilio denies the reational pot operations Marijuana foes said the has been slowed by legal
properly spending some of auditor’s charge that he within their borders since county’s new ordinance threats from the pot farm-
the $1 million his depart- can only use the money for voters passed Proposition has attracted a large num- ers who have already paid
ment received in fees from background checks and 64 in November. ber of undesirable drug a combined $3.7 million in
legal pot growers to go af- other permit-related activ- Some have already enact- dealers, leading to higher fees to the county.
ter illegal operators. ity. He says busting illegal ed outright bans while oth- crime and community up- It’s those fees that auditor
It’s the latest skirmish over pot operations is necessary ers embrace marijuana as heaval. Rebecca Callen said the
pot in a rural county con- to regulate marijuana in a financial boost. Four of the five supervisors sheriff improperly tapped
fronting a massive influx of the county, and is working In Calaveras, residents are who enacted the pot ordi- to help finance pot farm
marijuana growers in the with county officials on re- deeply divided over the nance last year have been raids and arrests.q
run up to Jan. 1 when rec- solving the issue. The sheriff county’s year-old decision replaced by candidates