Will Ex-judge Michael Cook Get 18-month Prison Deal He Bargained For?
From the Belleville News-Democrat
On Wednesday, former St. Clair County Circuit judge Michael Cook will learn whether he gets the 18-month prison deal he bargained for or whether U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade will reject the deal because he thinks Cook deserves a longer stint.
Cook pleaded guilty to heroin use and gun charges in exchange for an 18-month sentence. McDade asked for a deeper presentence investigation because he saw three reasons Cook could deserve more time: Cook was a judge, the charges disrupted governmental functions and Cook's actions caused a loss of public confidence in the judicial system.
At least one federal informant told the FBI that Cook was using drugs before he was sworn in as a judge. That source, a former drug user, stated that Cook used heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and a variety of prescription painkillers. While on the bench, Cook presided over more than 1,700 felony cases, including being the sitting judge on the county's drug court.
Cook's drug use may have come to law enforcement's attention in August 2011 during a federal investigation into Justin D. Cahill, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute stolen OxyContin. Cahill told agents that he believed that by supplying more OxyContin pills for Cook, he would get less time for his felony driving under the influence charges.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Belleville News-Democrat
On Wednesday, former St. Clair County Circuit judge Michael Cook will learn whether he gets the 18-month prison deal he bargained for or whether U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade will reject the deal because he thinks Cook deserves a longer stint.
Cook pleaded guilty to heroin use and gun charges in exchange for an 18-month sentence. McDade asked for a deeper presentence investigation because he saw three reasons Cook could deserve more time: Cook was a judge, the charges disrupted governmental functions and Cook's actions caused a loss of public confidence in the judicial system.
At least one federal informant told the FBI that Cook was using drugs before he was sworn in as a judge. That source, a former drug user, stated that Cook used heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and a variety of prescription painkillers. While on the bench, Cook presided over more than 1,700 felony cases, including being the sitting judge on the county's drug court.
Cook's drug use may have come to law enforcement's attention in August 2011 during a federal investigation into Justin D. Cahill, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute stolen OxyContin. Cahill told agents that he believed that by supplying more OxyContin pills for Cook, he would get less time for his felony driving under the influence charges.
Read more in our daily News Update...