Federal and International

Former Joliet Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights Violation


Joliet PoliceChicago, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a former Joliet police officer for using unreasonable force against an individual while on duty.

THOMAS O’CONNOR, 40, of Joliet, is charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.  O’Conner is alleged to have used unreasonable force while on duty as an officer of the Joliet Police Department on Feb. 9, 2012.  The victim suffered bodily injury as a result of the unreasonable force, the indictment states.

The indictment was returned Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.  U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras scheduled arraignment for Sept. 20, 2016, at 9:30 a.m.

The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Greening and Christine M. O’Neill.

Indictment

Source: Justice.gov


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