[Peace-discuss] Brian Chesley's case

[Wendy Edwards]

The State's Attorney's office did indeed offer Brian Chesley diversion.
Apparently at the urging of his attorney and some local activists, he
turned it down.

Wendy

>From: "Shirley Stillinger" <shirley.stillinger at gmail.com>
>Date: April 29, 2008 5:57:52 PM CDT
>To: "Peace-discuss List" <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
>Subject: [Peace-discuss] Brian Chesley's case
>
>Although I share the anger and disgust voiced by many of you  
>against the behavior of the police who arrested Mr. Chesley, there  
>is an important part of the criminal justice system that has not  
>been mentioned:  the Champaign County State's Attorney.
>
>Whenever any law enforcement officer in the county makes an arrest,  
>he or she sends a report to the State's Attorney, who can then do  
>one of three things:
>
>     1.  Do nothing
>
>     2.  Refer the arrested person into a diversion program
>
>     3.  Take the case to court
>
>I think that diversion would have been the appropriate choice.  Mr.  
>Chesley contributed to the situation and some consequence seems  
>appropriate.
>
>A couple of years ago, I witnessed a trial in a similar case.   
>Different State's Attorney, but the same choice.  As someone  
>muttered in walking out of the courtroom, "A case of prosecutorial  
>overreach."