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| Stateville officer gets 46 months |
| By Daily Southtown |
| Published: 03/08/2004 |
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A former Stateville Correctional Center (Ill.) officer who arranged the flow of crack cocaine to inmates was sentenced last Tuesday to 46 months in prison by a federal judge who compared the crime to "throwing gasoline on a burning house." Steven King, 25, of Chicago, delivered crack to another Stateville officer who was cooperating with FBI agents. That female officer, who also admitted to having sex with several inmates, has already been sentenced to 39 months in prison. A total of four Stateville officers were charged in the federal probe into corruption at the maximum-security prison in Crest Hill. One was sentenced to 56 months in prison for smuggling marijuana, cocaine and heroin as well as a cell phone and camera for inmates into the prison. King was eligible for up to 87 months in prison but prosecutors recommended 46 because of his cooperation. King's attorney, citing his client's clean criminal history, wanted a sentence of 36 months. "I tried to avoid trouble my whole life," King told U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo. "But just this once, I made a mistake." Castillo pointed out King had actually participated in three separate drug deals, and that he would have leveled a much harsher sentence if the government hadn't asked for leniency. "I think this is a horrendous crime," Castillo said, adding drugs generally wouldn't get into prisons without help from dirty officers. "What happens with those addicted prisoners? One day they get out and a huge price is paid." |
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