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Man's 30-Year Sentence For
50 Cent Robbery Overturned
9-11-2

CHICAGO (UPI) -- The Illinois attorney general's office Wednesday considered an appeal of a federal appellate ruling overturning the conviction of a schizophrenic who was sentenced to 30 years for a 50-cent robbery.
 
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday overturned the sentence of Johnnie Brown, 43, citing a "tragic breakdown" in the system. The court said Brown's illness never was fully explored by his lawyers, mental health experts or the judge.
 
"Not only did Brown's public defender trial attorneys drop the ball, so did the court-appointed mental health doctors and probation officer, all of whom failed to conduct even a sufficient inquiry into his family background and extensive medical history," the court said.
 
The 43-year-old Brown was convicted in 1991 of using a knife to rob a man of 50 cents and a token for an adult bookstore. Brown had claimed he confronted the man with the knife because he thought the man was following him.
 
Brown was convicted in a 30-minute bench trial, represented by a substitute lawyer from the public defender's office because his assigned lawyer was ill. The substitute had no knowledge of Brown's illness.
 
The federal appellate court also lambasted the state appeals court, which upheld Brown's conviction without taking into consideration newly presented evidence of Brown's mental condition.
 
Assistant Attorney General David Iskowich said no decision had been made on whether to appeal the decision, retry Brown or free him.
 
 
Copyright © 2002 United Press International. All rights reserved.
 
 
Comment
 
From Frances (Canada
9-11-2
 
30 years for a 50 cent robbery???? Has the American justice system gone
as insane as they figure this guy is, or what???? I mean why 30 years
for 50 cents when murderers and rapists and guys who work for Enron and
World Com who've ripped off billions only get 5 - 10 years?????





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