Illinois appellate judges on Thursday threw out a longtime inmate’s sentence for a double murder, paving the way for prosecutors to drop charges and overriding an unusual decision from a Cook County judge.
In 1997, Williams was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting and killing Gretta-Morgan’s 20-month-old daughter Quortney. He was eventually sentenced to 48 years in prison, but will be released on what is the anniversary of Quortney’s death.
“Here they are, taking someone who has shown that he can sexually assault and murder a 20-month-old child – we are talking about a child that has no way to protect herself – but they can take him and put him right back out in society,” Gretta-Morgan said.
Attorney Sarah Toney says that a legal problem in sentencing laws, dating back to the 1990’s, are behind the man’s release from prison.
A former Elgin man convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting a 20-month-old girl in 1997 is being released from prison later this month after serving half of his 48-year sentence.
With COVID-19 raging throughout the United States, there is a growing sense of desperation among people in prison. Pablo Mendoza, who recently got out of prison, said that those inside “are tired of the lockdown.” They spend 23.5 hours a day in their cells. They have not had visits from their loved ones for almost a year.
Those who have caught COVID and are believed to be immune get out for yard time. Others are “weighing options,” according to Mendoza: “Stay safe, or get the virus so they can get some open air. They are willing to risk it; this is the mood right now.”