From: (SMusial21)
Subject: Busted in a drug sting in Chicago
Date: 1997/08/22
Newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard

Back in May I was charged with approaching an undercover officer
at one of Chicago's dope spots, and attempted to purchase $20
worth of heroin. I am in the armed service and such a conviction
would certainly mean a discharge. However at the time I was told
that it was only a misdemeanor and a bullshit charge that would
never be prosecuted. I was quite wrong, when I went to court a
few weeks later the judge refused to throw out my charge along
with about 60 other people that were arrested with me. I was
offered a plea bargain of 6 months non-reporting supervision,
with after 2 years the conviction being removed from my record.
Everyone except me pleaded guilty and took the deal. If I plead
guilty i could kiss my career goodbye, so I requested a bench
trial in hopes that this was a bullshit small misdemenor charge
and no witnesses against me would show up nor would they bother
to prosecute. Wrong again, I came for my trial my public
defendant told me that I had a 0% chance of winning unless i
could provide some credible witnesses, and basically it was my
word against the cops. And one of the cops was there to testify
against me. And I was also told that the deal on the table this
time if i plead guilty was 1 year reporting supervision (drug
counselling etc..) Seeing my future flee in front of me not
knowing what to do , i demanded a jury trial, and was given a
court date in a few weeks, in hopes that there will be a
different judge who might offer me a better deal, or that i may
be able to hire a real lawyer and win. I showed up for my trial
yesterday, was called, the cops were called and by some miracle
there were no witnesses against me, all charges were dropped and
im all clear. Miracle indeed. I was wondering was it the fact
that it just costs too much money to get 12 jurors and is too
much hustle for the state attorney to prosecute such a small case
that it was dropped? Also I think the cops at the sting acted
very improperly, by clearly advertising they are selling drugs by
yelling "Blows, BLOWS, Park" , isnt that entrapment, and several
people that were in jail with me talked of approaching the cops
realizing it was a sting before even saying anything to them, and
then saying, "I'm just walking, i dont want to buy any drugs",
and they were still grabbed, I think thats bullshit. Also I read
on the Chicago PD website from the district i was arrested in
that they have a virtually 100% conviction rate for such cases. I
guess that because everyone pleads guilty not wanting the bother
of several court dates. I guess I was one of the lucky ones.
Chicago Police almost ruined my life, moreso then Dope.


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