Cates
MOUNT VERNON – St. Clair County Circuit Judge Robert Haida improperly sentenced Leondre McClendon to 80 years in prison for rape and other crimes he committed at age 16, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on July 20.
They relied on a fresh opinion of the Illinois Supreme Court, finding a sentence longer than 40 years for a juvenile offender violates the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court found a shorter sentence provides a meaningful opportunity to obtain release based on maturity and rehabilitation.
According to background in the ruling, McClendon walked Belleville’s streets after dark on May 5, 2016, with a cousin the same age and a brother two years younger.