Tuesday, April 09, 2024

Man accused of DUI and reckless homicide in accident that killed cop is free under no-bail Illinois SAFE-T Act

Illinois' Democrat governor, JB Pritzker, regularly brags about how he signed into law the first legislation that bans cash bail. 

In the 2022 gubernatorial campaign, Pritzker repeatedly told an apocryphal story that the SAFE-T Act will prevent a mother from being held in jail for stealing diapers because she can't afford bill.

Then there is Nathan Sweeney of DeKalb, who has been charged with DUI and reckless homicide.

From NBC Chicago:

Nathan P. Sweeney, 44, was apprehended following the death of Deputy Christina Musil on March 28. Sheriff's officials said Musil was sitting inside her vehicle, parked on the right shoulder of southbound Illinois Route 23, when a single-unit Kenworth truck ran off the roadway for unknown reasons and struck her vehicle from behind. 

Musil was rushed to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and later pronounced dead. During the investigation following the collision, officers determined that Sweeney had been under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash, authorities said. 

 At a court hearing packed with Musil's family and friends on Monday, 23rd Judicial Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick cited Illinois' SAFE-T Act and what it requires to be considered when deciding whether to detain someone prior to a trial, the newspaper reported.

More...

The Daily Chronicle reported that Buick listed a multitude of conditions that Sweeney must abide by while on release, including not operating a motor vehicle throughout the proceedings and submitting to at least three random drug tests per week.

As for Pritzker, he ordered flags in Illinois to be flown at half-staff.

A far better action would be for the General Assembly to vote to repeal the SAFE-T Act--with Pritzker signing the legislation into law.

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