Dec. 22, 2022 1p
Calling it one of the toughest decisions he’s ever had to make, Racine Judge Robert Repischek ruled that the barber who shot and killed a customer was competent at the time. As such, Repischek refused to accept 33-year-old Tamir Williams’ plea of insanity. The ruling came even though three psychologists testified that Williams suffers from a mental illness. Repischek agreed, but said he believes Williams understood right from wrong when he shot 21-year-old Andre Sandoval. Williams will be formally sentenced on March 3rd. While Williams’ conviction of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide carries a mandatory life prison sentence, Repischek will have the option of setting what amounts to a parole eligibility date.
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The founder of the Black Lives Matter chapter in Lake County won a partial victory in Kenosha Court. Deliberating for over an hour, a jury acquitted 63-year-old Clyde McLemore of a felony charge of battery to a law enforcement officer. McLemore, however, was found guilty of a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. The charges stemmed from an incident the day after Jacob Blake was shot in which a crowd tried to force their way into Kenosha’s Public Safety Building while local officials were attempting to hold a news conference. Judge Jason Rossell delayed sentencing until a bail jumping charge is resolved. McLemore picked up the additional charge because while awaiting yesterday’s trial in Kenosha he was cited for criminal trespass in Illinois. McLemore allegedly caused a disturbance at a meeting of the Waukegan City Council.
Also this week, a looter who entered three buildings during the Kenosha riots was given a three-year-long prison sentence by Judge Gerard Dougvillo. 25-year-old Antoine Simpson says he was high and drunk when he broke into the buildings with others. At the time, Simpson was on probation, a fact that didn’t help him in yesterday’s sentencing before Judge Dougvillo. Simpson has already served nearly two-thirds of the sentence while awaiting trial. Dougvillo told him that he took advantage of a “community under siege” by looting.
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The Racine man who on “ring” video appeared to run up to a woman and push her to the ground in an unprovoked attack last spring is headed to a mental institution. 30-year old Joshua Lewis of Racine pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of battery by reason of mental disease or defect. The prosecution isn’t contesting the plea. In court this week, Lewis acknowledged the facts in the case, apologized and admitted to having a history of mental health issues. Judge Timothy Boyle ordered that Lewis be held in a mental health facility, pending completion of a disposition investigation. He’ll be sentenced at a later date. The shocking video was widely distributed on social media in an effort initiated by the police department to identify the offender. The woman who got knocked to the ground was pregnant, and, as it turned out, is also deaf. Just a few months before the attack, Williams had spent time in a state mental health facility with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Lewis is due back in court January 10th.
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