Former Village Employee Pleads Guilty to Choking 14-Year-Old Girl, Gets Probation
Former Village of Oak Lawn public works employee Michael T. Kelly, 55, pleads guilty to aggravated battery in the August 2011 attack on a 14-year-old girl, and is sentenced to two years’ probation and anger management classes.
A Cook County judge sentenced Michael T. Kelly, 55, who was accused of choking and beating a 14-year-old girl last summer, to two years probation and anger management classes after Kelly pleaded guilty to aggravated battery on Thursday.
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Kelly, a retired Village of Oak Lawn public works employee, appeared in Judge John J. Hynes' Bridgeview courtroom wearing a blue shirt and gray slacks next to his attorney, Ed Barron.
Prosecutors reviewed details of the Aug. 29, 2011 incident, where Oak Lawn police say Kelly rammed his bike into the 14-year-old girl, and then grabbed her off her own bike in a chokehold. Kelly held the girl down on the ground in a headlock and punched her in the head until witnesses stopped him and he fled the scene, prosecutors said.
Kelly was found hiding in a garden, authorities say, and later told police he had "snapped."
Kelly declined to speak in court Thursday, but his attorney indicated that Kelly has no previous violent history.
"This is an aberration, one time in his life that he did a foolish thing," Barron said. "And he's paying for it with a felony conviction and anger management classes."
Hynes also ordered Kelly to pay $659 in court courts. The assistant state's attorney said the victim's family has been made aware of the plea agreement.
RG
1:43 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I don't like this sentencing at all. Maybe if he "snapped" at another adult. But choke a girl and then punch her in the head and get no time in a cell? Thank God witnesses/neighbors came to save her before something very serious happened.
What is going on?
2:12 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Ed Barron is a former village trustee hired by Ernie Kolb
comic relief
2:49 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
This sentence makes me sick!!!! This child is scarred for life from this traumatic incident. There was plenty of evidence to convict had it gone to trial, why did the state cut a deal? Probation? Gimme a break. You'll be seeing this guys name again in the news, make my words!
Baba Wawa
7:11 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
He actually was convicted. When you plead guilty, you're pleading guilty; i.e., "I did it. I'm guilty." Then a conviction is entered.
OakLawnGuy
3:16 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I'd like to hear the judge explain and justify this sentence to the victim.
Pat F
3:32 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
"Revolving Door of Justice!" These judges and political officials get paid to do their jobs but all they do is collect a check! Time to clear the slates at election time.. Replace them all....
CAJ
5:42 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Felony conviction and anger management classes? I'd say he got-off easy.
Sounds like this clown is another loose canon we'll hear from again in the future.
CAJ
5:49 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Better yet, in lieu of anger management, perhaps a psychiatric evaluation would be in order. We've all had our fill of folks who just "snapped" and left carnage in their wake.
S R
10:05 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
That's despicable to attack a child. Probation for ramming the bike, choking, & non stop punching in the head. That sickens me & someone that violent should serve time. He's probably going to kill next time. What if he 'snaps' and there is no one around to pull him off. I will pray for the victim and the family. You never get over violent trauma, I know because I am a survivor & that was in 1980. Not a day goes by without something reminding me
CAJ
1:36 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Barron is also quoted as saying that "Kelly has no previous violent history".
Neither did James Holmes before he went on his midnight rampage in Aurora, Colorado.
Once is all it takes.
What is going on?
6:21 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
He's politically connected. Why else would he have worked under Kolb for the oak lawn village? That's how he got off his connections to the Kolbs.
Deputy Dog
9:47 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
You people should sit in the circuit court for felony cases. Probation is the most common sentence for all kinds of offenders, including people who commit battery or assault. Drug offenders, thieves, and repeat burglars also typically receive probation. This is a typical sentence. if we put everybody in prison, we would have to build a lot more prisons.
Moonglow
8:17 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012
So? we should build MORE prisons then!! This guy paid someone off to get the "sentence" he received. It's pathetic!! Next time (and there WILL be a next time) he's going to kill someone! I hope the child's family sues this moron!!
Baba Wawa
7:12 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Yes, build more prisons. You want to foot the bill?
Deputy Dog is 100% correct.
Deal with it.
Mike
11:55 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
I DO NOT condone what he did. I have heard from mutual friends, that the girl was filmed, vandalizing his house and car on a closed circuit camera that was set up because he was having problems with vandals. She just might not be an innocent victim.