Man to be tried as adult in '77 killing
Suspect implicated self during traffic stop, authorities say
By Matthew Walberg |Tribune staff reporter October 17, 2007
A Cook County judge ruled Tuesday that a 46-year-old man charged this year as a juvenile in the 1977 murder of a classmate in Homewood should be prosecuted as an adult.
Juvenile Court Judge Paul Stralka made no mention of punishment in his explanation, but said the juvenile justice system could not help the defendant, Fred Rogers.
"It is certainly not in the best interest" of Rogers to be transferred to Criminal Court, Stralka said, noting the 14-year to life sentence Rogers faces if convicted. But Rogers, a lifelong alcoholic and drug abuser who has a long criminal record, needs treatment programs that only the adult criminal system can provide, the judge said.
more at link....
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...17,1,953204.story?ctrack=3&cset=true#cooliris
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Kenneth Hellstrom was murdered January 19th 1977
Rogers was arrested in March this year.
Sami
Suspect implicated self during traffic stop, authorities say
By Matthew Walberg |Tribune staff reporter October 17, 2007
A Cook County judge ruled Tuesday that a 46-year-old man charged this year as a juvenile in the 1977 murder of a classmate in Homewood should be prosecuted as an adult.
Juvenile Court Judge Paul Stralka made no mention of punishment in his explanation, but said the juvenile justice system could not help the defendant, Fred Rogers.
"It is certainly not in the best interest" of Rogers to be transferred to Criminal Court, Stralka said, noting the 14-year to life sentence Rogers faces if convicted. But Rogers, a lifelong alcoholic and drug abuser who has a long criminal record, needs treatment programs that only the adult criminal system can provide, the judge said.
more at link....
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...17,1,953204.story?ctrack=3&cset=true#cooliris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenneth Hellstrom was murdered January 19th 1977
Rogers was arrested in March this year.
Sami