Aaron Patterson Case

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Ex-Death Row inmate going back to prison

July 30, 2005

BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter
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In 2003, Aaron Patterson walked off of Death Row and into the free world after a 17-year fight. Now, Patterson, 41, again faces the prospect of dying in prison after a federal jury Friday convicted him of weapon and drug charges.

After deliberating since Thursday to cap one of the most unusual Chicago trials in recent history, the 12-member jury -- including two blacks and three Hispanics -- found Patterson guilty of all 13 counts, including heroin and marijuana charges and counts of a felon in possession of a weapon and possession of a machine-gun. Patterson faces 15 years to life for the felon-in-possession count alone.

His co-defendant Mark Mannie was also convicted of all charges.

The courtroom was packed Friday. But Patterson wasn't there.

Actions seen as theatrics

He was banned after repeated outbursts at the start of the trial four weeks ago. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer let him back in when he promised to behave. Then Monday, he tackled his lawyers, leaving one slightly bruised and the other with a swollen ankle.

He was let in to testify wearing leg irons and handcuffs. But he balked at the prosecutor's first question and instead labeled the mayor, Cook County state's attorney and U.S. attorney "the three stooges." He was hauled off again.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Niewoehner dismissed Patterson's actions as theatrics.

"I think that was seen for what it was: an attempt to disrupt this process, derail it, do anything to stop this trial," Niewoehner said. "Because once the facts came out, defendant Patterson knew exactly what was going to happen."

Sentencing in December

Supporters say Patterson was set up and that the case didn't belong in federal court, where penalties are more severe than in state court.

They say he was targeted as payback for filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the city. His suit says he was tortured and framed for a double murder. In 2003, Gov. George Ryan cleared Death Row and pardoned him.

Patterson was arrested last year, after the state turned another drug dealer into an informant. Patterson claimed he knew he was the subject of the five-month sting and was running a counter-sting.

"The police went after Aaron because he's Aaron," said his attorney Tommy Brewer, who promised to seek a new trial.

Security for the trial was extremely tight. Jurors' identities were kept secret, with the judge referring to them by number rather than name, then privately dismissing them. The feds are investigating one observer who allegedly threatened prosecutors, and the prosecutors are getting protection.

At the onset of trial, Patterson's previous attorney, Demitrus Evans, stormed out of court when she was unhappy with the judge's rulings, delaying the trial. She was kicked off, then accused of withholding legal papers and badmouthing new attorneys to Patterson in jail visits. A contempt hearing is still pending against her.

Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

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Ex-Patterson attorney asks fine, not contempt

By Rudolph Bush
Tribune staff reporter
Published August 16, 2005

An attorney for former Death Row inmate Aaron Patterson asked a federal judge Monday to spare her from a contempt of court finding for delaying Patterson's trial and allegedly undermining his confidence in his attorneys.

Attorney Demitrus Evans was dismissed as Patterson's defense attorney July 8--just before the start of opening statements in the guns and drugs trial--because she twice stormed out of court in tears.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer agreed to consider the recommendation of Evans' lawyer, Arvin Boddie, that Evans be forced to pay a fine but that she not be found in contempt.

The judge is seeking "at a minimum" that Evans repay the government some $2,865, the cost of two days of jurors' time, and fees for the attorney of Patterson's co-defendant.

Pallmeyer scheduled a hearing Wednesday to make a final decision.

"Ms. Evans is not without some degree of, for lack of a better word, fault," Boddie told Pallmeyer.

Boddie acknowledged that when Evans left court in the middle of proceedings on July 1 and 8, she caused a delay.

But he argued that the delays were minor relative to more significant disruptions.

Patterson's outbursts, including a physical attack on his attorneys, created considerable distractions during the trial.

Pallmeyer also was concerned that after Evans was dismissed from the case, she undermined Patterson's confidence in his other attorneys, Paul Camarena and Tommy Brewer.

Evans once referred to Brewer, a former federal agent turned defense attorney, as the "head agent" working Patterson's case.

In an Aug. 8 memorandum, Pallmeyer wrote that any notion Brewer was working undercover for the government while representing Patterson "borders on delusional."

In addition, Camarena told Pallmeyer that Evans accused him of throwing the case.

Boddie insisted that it isn't uncommon for lawyers to second-guess each other, even harshly.

As for her actively seeking to undermine the case, "we will categorically deny that," he said.

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Judge close to finding attorney in contempt

Published August 17, 2005


CHICAGO -- A federal judge said the behavior of one of Aaron Patterson's former attorneys "warrants a finding of contempt" of court--while coming short of quite declaring it Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to allow attorney Demitrus Evans to present evidence that might still spare her a contempt finding.

Evans represented Patterson, a pardoned Death Row inmate, prior to opening arguments in his recent guns and drugs trial. But she was removed from the case after storming out of court twice, one of the events that triggered Tuesday's contempt hearing.

In a hearing Monday, Pallmeyer seemed willing to consider a proposal from Evans' attorney to simply impose a fine against Evans, saving her from a contempt finding.

But in a written order Tuesday, Pallmeyer concluded she "is not inclined to adopt" the proposal, first presented by Evans' attorney, Arvin Boddie.

Pallmeyer "nevertheless will entertain evidence on the matter, to the extent relevant," she wrote.

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Former Patterson attorney found in civil contempt

Thursday, August 18, 2005

By The Associated Press

A federal judge found a former attorney for Aaron Patterson in civil contempt Wednesday for staging two tearful walkouts during the former death row inmate's trial on drug and firearms charges.

Defense attorney Demitrus Evans, 37, first stormed out of the courtroom after one of Patterson's many emotional outbursts in June during his pretrial hearings. Delaying proceedings, U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer ordered U.S. marshals to search for Evans and they eventually brought her back to court. The second walkout resulted in her being dropped from the case.

Pallmeyer ruled Wednesday that Evans' actions justified civil contempt, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Niewoehner. She likely will be required to pay the government about $3,000 in restitution for costs incurred during the delays in proceedings, he said.

Evans' attorney, Arvin Boddie, agreed his client should reimburse the government for the disruptions, but argued against a finding of contempt. He told Pallmeyer during a hearing Monday that his client's behavior was the result of great personal and professional pressure.

Boddie also blamed the behavior on Evans' "youth and inexperience."

He declined to comment on the ruling Wednesday.

Evans' tearful walkouts contributed to the unruly atmosphere surrounding Patterson's trial. Throughout the proceedings, Patterson repeatedly yelled at Pallmeyer, prosecutors and his own lawyers. He also scuffled with his attorneys, injuring one of them. Pallmeyer banished him from the courtroom several times during the trial for causing disruptions.

When U.S. marshals wrestled Patterson out of the courtroom after an outburst on June 1, a visibly upset Evans walked out. Then, when she didn't return immediately, Pallmeyer had marshals bring her back.

Evans, who was licensed to practice law in Illinois in 1997, staged a second, tearful walkout on July 8 after losing a dispute with the judge over taped evidence. Pallmeyer then dropped Evans from the case.

Evans was in court for the entire hearing Wednesday.

Patterson served 17 years in prison for a double-murder he denied committing. He was one of four former death row inmates pardoned in January 2003 by then-Gov. George Ryan.

When Patterson left prison, he publicly vowed to devote his life to uncovering police corruption. But in August of 2004, he was arrested on drug and gun charges. A jury convicted him of those charges July 29.

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