Unsubstantiated Charges; Local Propaganda Fails Miserably –

Shelby Co., Ill. (ECWd) –

While local propagandists continue to spread their fabricated narratives on certain issues, their selective outrage must once again be called out.

Former Shelby County State’s Attorney Gina Vonderheide (corrected – even though the online docket in Judici shows Nichole Kroncke) charged Chad Hammond with three felonies in 2020-CF59, a Class 2 Felony- Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer, a Class 3 Felony – Aggravated Battery in a Public Place, a Class 4 Felony – Attempted to FOIL/Defeat Screen Test, and a Class A Misdemeanor – Resisting a Peace Officer.

Did the evidence support the charges? 

All those charges were dismissed by former State’s Attorney Rob Hanlon, but rather than explain why, they lead people to believe Hanlon did not care about the police because he dismissed charges of aggravated battery to a police officer.

Jay Scott’s email communication with Tom Finks:

“I’m a straight shooter when it comes to negotiations.  In prepping for trial in 20CF59 I discovered that the reports are somewhat misleading.  After viewing the video, there is no Aggravated Battery.  Having never looked beyond that charge, after looking at Count III I don’t believe he committed the offense charged, but that he committed the offense of Attempt (Defrauding a Drug Test).  So in short, we only have misdemeanor offenses in this case, which I really don’t care much about.” (emphasis added)

So, with an acknowledgment that the reports are somewhat misleading, the question becomes, why was he charged for those offenses if the reports are misleading, and the video evidence does not support the charge? Where is the outrage for misleading reports or video proof there was no aggravated battery to an officer?

What does it say to the public when a prosecutor says they really don’t care much about misdemeanor offenses?  Historically, those charges have been used as a wake-up call to hopefully deter a person from committing more egregious crimes.  If a prosecutor does not care much about those types of crimes, are we really focusing on justice?

Scott continues in his comments to Tom Finks:

“As far as all of the other charges, he is extended term eligible and he has a horrible record.  My offer to resolve all of his cases would be a plea to Unlawful Possession of Meth in 19CF12 with a sentence of two years, a plea to Agg. Fleeing in 19CF116 with a consecutive sentence of four years, with 20CF59, 19CF62, and 19CF122 being dismissed.” (emphasis added)

So, when it comes to aggravated battery on a police officer, the local narrative is Hanlon let the guy off, when in reality, the former ASA Jay Scott confirmed, the reports tied to those charges were misleading and the video evidence indicates there was no aggravated battery.

So yes, Hanlon dismissed aggravated battery charges to a police officer.  The reason though is much different than some have been led to believe. The video evidence and reports did not support it, per Jay Scott, the former Assistant State’s Attorney under Nichole Kroncke.

Rather than tell the public the whole truth, they spun the information to cast a negative light on a person they hate rather than recognize or learn the truth, which is, that justice was served with those charges, never mind the fact those charges should have never been brought in the first place when video evidence proved there was no aggravated battery.

At the time, in March of 2021, Scott was offering the dismissal of multiple felony charges in multiple cases in exchange for a guilty plea in two cases for which Hammond would serve 6 years.

With many cases lumped together with this particular criminal, he was sentenced to prison in September of 2023 for 24 years, of which due to them being served concurrently, he faces 7 years in prison with the standard 1:1 credits and credits for time served.

IN PERSON (3 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE DAY): ASA, DEFT WITH ATTY FINKS. NP: 22CF68: PG TO COUNT 3, ALL REMAINING DPP, 7 YEARS IDOC, 6 MOS MSR, $75 FINE + COSTS, CREDIT 381 DAYS (5/19/22-9/9/2022, 12/14/2022-9/6/2023); 22CF70: PG TO COUNT 2, ALL REMAINING DPP, 6 YEARS IDOCS, 6 MOS MSR, $75 FINE + COSTS, 380 DAYS CREDIT (5/20/22-9/9/2022, 12/14/22-9/6/2023); 22CF176: PG TO COUNT 4, ALL REMAINING DPP, 7 YEARS IDOC, 6 MOS MSR, $75 FINE + COSTS, 275 DAYS CREDIT (12/6/22-9/6/2023); 22CF179: PG, 4 YEARS IDOC, 6 MOS MSR, $75 FINE + COSTS, NO CREDIT IN THIS CASE AS HE WAS NEVER HELD ON THIS CASE. ALL SENTENCES CONCURRENT. RESTITUTION IN 22CF176 TO SHELBY COUNTY SHERIFF $4110.95 AND DEFT ORDER TO PAY RESTITUTION WITHIN 5 YEARS OF HIS RELEASE FROM IDOC AT THE RATE OF $100 PER MO BEG 45 DAYS FROM HIS RELEASE. PER STATE, VICTIM NOTIFICATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATIONS MADE. NO VIP STATEMENTS. FACTUAL BASIS IN EACH CASE GIVEN. PRIOR HISTORY RECITED AS WELL AS THE COURT REVIEWS 22CF176 PRETRIAL BOND REPORT CONTAINING THE DEFENDANT’S CRIMINAL HISTORY PER OSPS. DEFT ORDERED TO REPORT TO THE COURT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HIS RELEASE TO ADDRESS OUTSTANDING MONIES OWED (EXCEPT RESTITUTION). JAIL STATUS/RESTITUTION REPAYMENT STATUS 1/3/2025 AT 9 AM IN CASE NUMBER 2022CF176 ONLY. APPEAL RIGHTS.

We encourage everyone to do their own homework and stop drinking the Kool-Aid from those who are focused on their political agenda rather than actual truth supported by public records.