Vanecko wants McHenry County Jail

Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko wants to serve his 60-day jail sentence at the McHenry County Jail rather than the Cook County Jail, citing “security reasons.”

I try really hard on my blog to avoid profanity but, when I read that Vanecko, who pled guilty in the 2004 death of Daley nephew David Koschman, wants to choose where he spends his 60-day jail sentence, all I wanted to say was, "WTH!!!"

Since when should a person convicted of any crime get to choose where or when he goes to jail?

Why didn't the McHenry County Judge Maureen McIntyre pack him off to Cook County Jail that day?

First of all, 60 days in the slammer is a darned low price to pay. And then he has to stay home for 60 days. (Will anyone be watching?) And ten years after Koschman died, at that.

Isn't it just too bad that Richie has to worry about "security"?

When judges are up for re-election, the public should have a score sheet of trials and cases conducted before them, the outcome, the sentences and what happened after that. Instead, the public just awakens slightly from its stupor and checks off Retain on the ballot.

Maybe all voters should have to spend two-three days in a courtroom during an important trial and make up their own minds about whether the courtroom appeared to be run fairly and properly. If lawyers are disrespectful at the bench or in the courtroom, should the judge be evaluated on what s/he allows to happen?

If judges warn lawyers about certain behaviors or acts and then allow them to get away with the same behavior again, should that be a strike against the judge?

How long should Judge McIntyre entertain Vanecko's request for McHenry County Jail? Just long enough to say "Denied."