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| Club owners get prison in deadly 2003 stampede |
| By chicagotribune.com |
| Published: 11/25/2009 |
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CHICAGO - Two owners of a Chicago nightclub where 21 people were crushed to death in a 2003 stampede down a stairwell were sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday for disobeying court orders to close the building's second floor. Anything less than a prison term would "deprecate the seriousness of this matter," Circuit Judge Daniel Gillespie said in handing down the sentence despite appeals for leniency from U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and other prominent Chicagoans. "Court orders must be respected," Gillespie said. But he added the five-year sentence city prosecutors had sought was too much. Dwain Kyles and Calvin Hollins, whose E2 nightclub was the scene of the Feb. 17, 2003, tragedy, are to report to state prison Jan. 5. Their attorneys said they would appeal. The two men had been ordered the year before to close the second floor level of the now-boarded up building they had rented to house the nightclub. They claim they did close the structure's balcony level, which they say was what the order actually intended to have them do. But a Circuit Court jury in September convicted them of indirect criminal contempt of court for failing to obey the order. The courtroom was jammed Tuesday with supporters of the two men, including Rush; state Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago; businessman Jonathan Jackson, son of civil rights leader Jesse L. Jackson; and numerous well-wishers. Read More. |
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