Nicholas Sheley, suspected in 8 killings, to appear in court today

[Chicago]

It simply amazes me how rarely prosecutors even bother to seek the death penalty.

They better seek the death peanalty in this case or something has seriously gone wrong in our criminal justice system.

[Jack]

Mouse wrote:

Now why can we post comments on this one but not the one of the Chicago cop being killed? I think that is an important story.
By the way.......are they going to beat this guy to death for all his murders? Oh wait I forgot the tax payers will just support him for the next 100 years.

I think the Trib closed down comments on that story because too many morons were spewing their anti-cop sentiments on the thread. Lots of people hate the cops until they need one.

[Chicago]

Mouse wrote:

Now why can we post comments on this one but not the one of the Chicago cop being killed? I think that is an important story.

Mouse, you can always create a place to comment by starting a discussion yourself. Just click "start a discussion" and type away.

[Helen]

Sly1 wrote:

Seven pervious felonies. Why was this piece of dirt still on the streets? This is why I hate lawyers and judges.In florida they just executed a slimball who raped and murdered an 11 year boy. This slimball was released from prison 11 months before he killed this kid. Our laws are a joke in this country.

He was still on the street because he committed all or most of the felonies in Whiteside County, Illinois, where the court system is a joke. There is plenty of crime there but no punishment.
If it was left to Whiteside, he'd be assigned a $100 bond and be back out on the streets already!!!

[DC Chicago]

jspicer wrote:

<quoted text>
Most likely he was produced by police officers. Those that prefer to pursue village sticker violations by going into someones driveway, or police that randomly run peoples tags, or pull people over for having a graduation tassel hanging on their rearview mirror. There are many police that have a chance to view the situation rationally and only choose to see it one way, their way. I understand there is a need for police officers to keep the peace and enforce laws and sometimes they are stuck in certain situations, however, to pull people over for no seatbelt, a tassel on their rearview, etc. Thats simply stopping people for no real reason other than boredom and the desire to harass a civilian that is probably doing nothing wrong. Yet this guy manages to run circles around cops for days if not weeks. I suppose the officers were too busy doling out seatbelt tickets. So THAT is where the resentment comes from.

Maybe looking for drugs or alcoholor GUNScisioncision in a split second...you know the stuff that people say where were the police when this guy killed three people and was stoned or drunk...probably eating some Krespy Kreme donuts somewhere...they are never around when you need them, just harrasing some school kid with a tassel hanging from his mirror. Yeah, it's always easier on the side of the window looking in and very easy to criticize.
When you have to make a decision in a split second you are right it has to be their way because it's their butt if it's the wrong decision...then evryone is jumping on his back for not making the right choice.
Overweight policemen..no question about it,just like overweight postmen and cooks and every other job ,they have families and sometime they do not have the time or whatever to exercise and drop the weight they should. I will not get into a dialog with you on this I'm greiving over a fallen comrade who lost his life today
probably because he did not make the right decision to blow the person away,instead she took his life. It's not easy out there friend ,especially in today's atmosphere where a policeman is reluctant to do his job for fear of getting sued or getting 29 days off with no pay for making the wrong decision. Good night!!!!

[Allie]

jspicer wrote:

<quoted text>
Most likely he was produced by police officers. Those that prefer to pursue village sticker violations by going into someones driveway, or police that randomly run peoples tags, or pull people over for having a graduation tassel hanging on their rearview mirror. There are many police that have a chance to view the situation rationally and only choose to see it one way, their way. I understand there is a need for police officers to keep the peace and enforce laws and sometimes they are stuck in certain situations, however, to pull people over for no seatbelt, a tassel on their rearview, etc. Thats simply stopping people for no real reason other than boredom and the desire to harass a civilian that is probably doing nothing wrong. Yet this guy manages to run circles around cops for days if not weeks. I suppose the officers were too busy doling out seatbelt tickets. So THAT is where the resentment comes from.

those laws were created to generate revenue, and the cop who writes the most tickets wins a trip to Hawaii, for real, no joke, not even being sarcastic

[Helen]

I would urge all of you who want to know more about Mr. Sheley's criminal past and how, despite numbers charges for violent crimes, he was still walking the streets, to reference his hometown newspaper, Sauk Valley Newspapers (www.saukvalley.com). There's a really good story called "Crime and Punishment" in the 7/02 Web edition that tells some of this story - and how the courts in Sheley's home county of Whiteside time and again let him go free.
It's really a good article and I hope some of you take the time to check it out.

[Typical]

Helen wrote:

I would urge all of you who want to know more about Mr. Sheley's criminal past and how, despite numbers charges for violent crimes, he was still walking the streets, to reference his hometown newspaper, Sauk Valley Newspapers (www.saukvalley.com). There's a really good story called "Crime and Punishment" in the 7/02 Web edition that tells some of this story - and how the courts in Sheley's home county of Whiteside time and again let him go free.
It's really a good article and I hope some of you take the time to check it out.

I've thought for a long time that it's time to abolish the office of State's Attorney as an elected office in Illinois. This article cements it for me.

We need competent professionals who are held to professional standards prosecuting criminals, not incompetent politicians who seek to curry favor and hold on to their office. Spencer has some serious questions to answer and fast.

[jaxon]

Here's a link, Helen: http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2008/07/02...

I think this is a big story because it is about justice in a small town in the heartland of America. I am sure you are knowledgeable on the 2006 Keefer murder, and Sheley's role. None of us who know this community are without many, many, many stories of justice run amuck in large (who can forget the Perry Olinger murders?) and small ways -- this time, it hit the national media because of the deadly consequences.

Small town America is not what it once was -- isn't that a Latin King's tear drop tatoo near his brother's eye? Sterling and Rock Falls has seen an ever increasing problem with drugs and gangs over the last 40 years. I am not at all sure that it is atypical.

[jaxon]

Typical,
I am not sure I can agree with you. If the State's Attorney's are not elected, they will be appointed, and I think that is more dangerous -- just look at what the appointment process has brought us in this corrupt state. As elected officials, they can still be held accountable. The problem in Whiteside has always been that nearly every attorney is a republican, and none of them would run against Spencer. Whether elected or appointed, they will want to make themselves look good by convictions (pleas count, trials can be lost), and they can pick up more street users by doing deals in exchange for names from bad characters -- which is what the community thinks was happening with Sheley if you read the community blogs. I don't know if that is true, but it is what the community is thinking.

There has been rumored for years a very dark underbelly in that community involving locally powerful people -- a history which may have been valid 20 years ago, and not be valid at this time, but one which raises other questions.

[Deez Nutz]

Mary Jane wrote:

What I find interesting is that there is not one racist post. When whites kill, no matter how heinous, it's not attributable to all whites. When blacks kill, they are all lazy, violent animals. Click on any story involving a murder of or by a black person and you'll see nothing but comments on how race attributed to the murder. Here, the individual is held personally accountable.
This is certainly a tragedy and certainly proof that senseless violence knows no color.

You noticed that too? The fact that this "individual" was out on the street, after eight strikes, proves that the criminal justice system avoids locking all criminals based on the crimes they commit, regardless of race or income level. The rich walk, as do people who resemble judges and prosecutors.
Judicial reforms are needed to protect all citizens in all communities. Crime stats make it seem as if all crimes are committed in inner cities. That poor senior citizen who this person killed for her life's savings would still be alive if this person was of a certain ethnic group. And you're right about the rampant racist posts on this and other news-site's comment pages.

[Deez Nutz]

Cyclone wrote:

<quoted text>
While it's not an excuse, the ratio of stories about white guys chopping people up with axes to stories about black gang members shooting people in the Trib is probably about 1 in 50, so it does give that impression, justified or not.

What gets reported is an editors choice. This person committed a series of crimes, as do many like him, across racial lines. The false impression is the flawed ratio you cite. Growing up in a white community (Italian), I know of many violent crimes never reported in the media, nor was anyone ever charged for those types of crimes. It shouldn't be a tit for tat every time a crime is committed. But it is annoying to see so many racist rants on the Internet posted by people who hide behind their nom de plum aliases.

[jspicer]

DC Chicago wrote:

<quoted textYeah, it's always easier on the side of the window looking in and very easy to criticize.
When you have to make a decision in a split second you are right it has to be their way because it's their butt if it's the wrong decision...then evryone is jumping on his back for not making the right choice. It's not easy out there friend ,especially in today's atmosphere where a policeman is reluctant to do his job for fear of getting sued or getting 29 days off with no pay for making the wrong decision. Good night!!!!

You speak of a split second decision, im sorry but last i checked seeing harassing someone is rarely a split second decision other than "how bored am i?" I didnt say i hated cops personally. Although im rather disillusioned with them at this point. The laws that are there are to circumnavigate the illegal search and seizure amendment to the constitution. If you are so for justice you should know that and be offended by these laws. The intent of these laws is just to create revenue and enable you cops to go around those pesky little rights of individuals. Im not saying they have probably offered up a few criminal along the way however id rather have those criminals caught in the act of perpetrating an actual crime than have to be lumped in with them and my criminality assumed by these laws. I also agree that cops should be allowed to do their job, but the problem lies with so many corrupt policemen over the years ruining it for you now. Police that have beaten people unnecessarily like that young lady in the bar, and those men outside the bar downtown. It comes from years of cops railroading people and "producing" evidence against innocent people letting their "gut" override real eviidence. So now we have to question police every time they have to defend themselves or others. It sucks i know but its a fact. Heck i was on the side of the cops when ole Rodney King got his butt beat. Ive always been of the opinion that if you run from cops you deserve to get beat down and this guy was going over 100mph doing some STUPID stuff and endangering the lives of everyone around. Though those cops took it too far. The point being police have made themselves suspicious and every time someone get shot by cops everyone has to look at the situation close and make sure he was justified in doing so. Its a shame because there are a good many criminals out there that need to be shot. My personal opinion is after the cops tell you to put the gun down 3 times they should be able to shoot you dead right then right there cause you are obviously a real danger. No matter how hyped up i am if i have multiple guns drawn on me i pay VERY close attention to what the men on the other sides of those guns have to say to me and i would do exactly as i was told.
You can get mad at me all you want but all i was doing was speaking the truth, i was telling you WHERE that guy came from in his hatred of police officers. The problem is there are too many police officers that really shouldnt be. They are the bullies we dealt with as children and now they are able to hide behind the law and bully us using the law as an excuse to intimidate others. Im not saying all cops but it only takes a few apples to ruin the whole barrel. Maybe the police should do a little of policing one another as well and your reputation wouldnt be so tarnished. Its up to us as well to get these dumb laws rescinded as well.

[DC Chicago]

jspicer wrote:

<quoted text>
You speak of a split second decision, im sorry but last i checked seeing harassing someone is rarely a split second decision other than "how bored am i?" I didnt say i hated cops personally. Although im rather disillusioned with them at this point. The laws that are there are to circumnavigate the illegal search and seizure amendment to the constitution. If you are so for justice you should know that and be offended by these laws. The intent of these laws is just to create revenue and enable you cops to go around those pesky little rights of individuals. Im not saying they have probably offered up a few criminal along the way however id rather have those criminals caught in the act of perpetrating an actual crime than have to be lumped in with them and my criminality assumed by these laws. I also agree that cops should be allowed to do their job, but the problem lies with so many corrupt policemen over the years ruining it for you now. Police that have beaten people unnecessarily like that young lady in the bar, and those men outside the bar downtown. It comes from years of cops railroading people and "producing" evidence against innocent people letting their "gut" override real eviidence. So now we have to question police every time they have to defend themselves or others. It sucks i know but its a fact. Heck i was on the side of the cops when ole Rodney King got his butt beat. Ive always been of the opinion that if you run from cops you deserve to get beat down and this guy was going over 100mph doing some STUPID stuff and endangering the lives of everyone around. Though those cops took it too far. The point being police have made themselves suspicious and every time someone get shot by cops everyone has to look at the situation close and make sure he was justified in doing so. Its a shame because there are a good many criminals out there that need to be shot. My personal opinion is after the cops tell you to put the gun down 3 times they should be able to shoot you dead right then right there cause you are obviously a real danger. No matter how hyped up i am if i have multiple guns drawn on me i pay VERY close attention to what the men on the other sides of those guns have to say to me and i would do exactly as i was told.
You can get mad at me all you want but all i was doing was speaking the truth, i was telling you WHERE that guy came from in his hatred of police officers. The problem is there are too many police officers that really shouldnt be. They are the bullies we dealt with as children and now they are able to hide behind the law and bully us using the law as an excuse to intimidate others. Im not saying all cops but it only takes a few apples to ruin the whole barrel. Maybe the police should do a little of policing one another as well and your reputation wouldnt be so tarnished. Its up to us as well to get these dumb laws rescinded as well.

I wish I had the authority for you to ride in a squad car and answer some calls for help or gone in on a domestic disturbance and see a battered woman who was just pummeled by her husband and when you try to make an arrest you not only have the husband to deal with, now you have the battered woman on your back...just a few of the items that a policeman has to deal with when they are not bored and just out harrassing citizens...you might,just might change some of your views of 'do nothing policemen'that go thru this day in and day out. Do not get me wrong I would not change my profession for anything ,you do not know me and I do not know you but if you needed help I would try to tackle a Mike Tyson or a Hulk Hogan look alike if your neck was on the line....go to 35th and Michigan and talk to the Supt. he might give you the permission to take a ride along,it's mighty different on the otherside of the window looking in!!!