The five Indiana men on trial for their involvement in the Ashford House attack case need time to consider a recommended sentence from a Cook County judge offering a plea deal, attorneys said after a hearing Friday, Dec. 7.
John Tucker, 26; Cody Sutherlin, 24; Dylan Sutherlin, 20; Alex Stuck, 22; and Jason Sutherlin, 33, have been in custody since May. They are charged with mob action, armed violence, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property. They have all been in custody since the May 19 incident.
READ: Check Out Patch's Ashford House Attack Section for Complete Coverage
Police say the five men—three of whom are brothers—stormed the Ashford House restaurant in Tinley Park with their faces covered . Authorities have said those targeted were affiliated with white supremacist movements, and defendants are said to be members of the . But attorneys for the men say the five were part of a group of 15 to 20 people planning a peaceful protest of the suspected white supremacists' meeting.
Defense lawyers were hopeful Judge Carmen K. Aguilar would have a more reasonable sentence recommendation than offered by the prosecution. Prosecutors had a seven-year prison sentence on the table that attorneys told Patch was "ridiculous" in previous interviews. Also, where the state's offer was seven years for all five men, Aguilar gave different numbers for each case, said attorney Brian Barrido, who represents Dylan Sutherlin.
"They're disappointed," Barrido said of the defendants' reactions. "They thought something was going to happen today."
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Should the men decide to plead guilty, they would be charged with three counts each of armed violence, a felony that could net them two to seven years in prison with a chance for probation.
Aguilar's recommendation wasn't significantly less than the state's offer of seven years, said James R. Fennerty, Cody Sutherlin's attorney. Fennerty declined to share specific's concerning Agular's recommendation.
"We'll see what happens. But I kinda doubt [Cody Sutherlin will take the deal]," he said.
Fennerty added that Cody Sutherlin was shocked at the offer, as the attorney was himself.
"To be honest, I thought Cody was a good candidate for probation," Fennerty said. "He has no [criminal] history except a DUI four years ago."
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Legal System Not Treating Defendants Fairly
The attorney added that Cody Sutherlin successfully completed court supervision in that case.
Stuart Smith, attorney for John Tucker, said his client is thinking over the deal.
"My reaction to them bringing this case is that they charged the wrong people and should have arrested the Nazis," Smith said.
Smith has said in previous interviews that the orders to prosecute the case so harshly came from orders from officials higher up than the prosecutors on the case.
What Happens Next
The men will decide individually whether to take their pleas, and Aguilar indicated during the hearing Friday that she will give the five as much time as they need to consider the deal.
The men return to court Monday, Dec. 17.
READ: Throw Out Arrest of Victim Nabbed on Weapons Charge During Ashford House Brawl
If they decide not to plead, attorneys will move forward with a motion to quash the stop of the defendants' vehicle after the May 19 and the subsequent arrest, explained attorney Barrido. Barrido is scheduled to argue that motion on Jan. 4.
"I'll be taking the lead on the motion, arguing that the traffic stop was improper and how they got evidence from the car was improper," Barrido said.
Ultimately though, Barrido said, the whole incident was "intended to be a protest against a Nazi gathering that got out of hand."
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Elwood: "Illinois Nazis." Jake: "I hate Illinois Nazis."
No, we need to send a message. I do not see what the peaceful citizens of the greater community get from this leniency. Are there other individuals who should have been charged but escaped capture?
What promises did Hitler make but not deliver? Please 'enlighten' me (lol) and cite sources. Hitler took a crushed and humiliated Germany and not only restored it's pride but crushed unemployment and turned Germany into the power house of Europe. He banned smoking; loved animals and encouraged physical fitness. His scientists built the first rockets and were behind most of what we now know about modern medicine. Again I ask, what did Hitler promise but not deliver? Please cite sources. I'll be waiting.
And those of you with the veiled references to President Obama and Hitler are even further off base.
Under Lenin/Stalin (Bolshevism writ large), its been estimated 60-90 million humans perished under his/their policies over the century, what to speak of Ukrainian atrocities alone. I'd say we are fast approaching more a Soviet-Bolshevist style (or almost the way there already) Kleptocracy, more succinctly. Andrew is correct, it appears Hitler turned on his masters, the Banker/Big Chem/Pharma Oligarchs and sought to rectify the dilemma they had created, which was why it was absolutely imperative for them to engage the USA in WWII to eliminate him from power. As they say, the winner always gets a favorable storyline in history, the losers not so much.
GHW #41 took the entire cost of the entire coalitions invasion as a gift from the Emir and invested it in the new enterprise zone of the GOP, China. Since GWI and II and Afghanistan the slaughters and terrorist attacks are ongoing the corporate profits are at a all time high in the Mil Ind Cong complex the Wars for Terror-Drugs and Jews cost is now in the Trillions and now with No Korea and more Nuke, chemical and economic disasters after record low river and great Lakes levels, drought and famine on the horizon for ??? and Hurricanes at the same time along with climate change rising sea levels the discussion in DC is on whether or not we are going to raise the rates on tax tax dodgers treasonous corporate CEO's and or do something on the destruction and future wars they will wage on American workers and middle class especially unlike the greatest radical president since FDR, TRICKY DICK NIXON. Dick Armee red Army lobbyist and Tparty guru got his golden parachute of 8 million from the whacko lobbyist organization the wingnuts set up,artner have been even investigated by the Fed's, And because there are low info nitwits like 10 faces VERA who are told to think Obama is the problem, he is but not for what u and the 10 faces of Vera and 4 marks think!
He was working on National SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE and low cost and high standards of insurance coverage for all low income workers set up with employers, he had began the process in his first term with grants to the States and local government for his social programs. POTUS Nixon was a Quaker his wife's family were Irish immigrants who settled the West as miners she and his mother had a strong influence on the real Nixon, he believed in his moral obligations but came under the influence of the wall st BANKSTER bad boy Henry Kissinger the emissary of the dark side and led to his downfall because he opened up Red China for the Bushes,ROMNEY S and other scum according to Barry Goldwater the former Mr Conservative of the GOP.
http://tinleypark.patch.com/articles/expert-ashford-attack-was-case-of-skinheads-vs-boneheads