DIESELMAN
03-07-2007, 04:56 PM
Cook County prosecutors will seek jail time for Chicago Bears lineman Terry "Tank" Johnson, who pleaded guilty last month to violating the terms of his probation, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Johnson, 25, will be sentenced March 15. Last month in a Skokie courtroom, he admitted to violating the terms of his probation, which arose from an earlier weapons conviction. Johnson's lawyer, Lorna Propes, declined to comment Tuesday. During a court hearing at Johnson's guilty plea last month, the defense called witnesses to attest to Johnson's good character. Lineman could be sentenced to year.
Friend killed
The defensive lineman faces up to one year in jail for violating his probation by having guns in his Gurnee home when police raided it Dec. 14, 2006. Johnson's probation arose from a June 2005 case, in which police arrested Johnson after finding a loaded handgun in his truck outside a nightclub. In November 2005, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours of community service.
His probation was set to end May 3, 2007, but the Gurnee raid yielded weapons and marijuana from Johnson's home. Johnson has pleaded not guilty to the Lake County gun charges.
Johnson's friend and bodyguard Willie Posey was arrested in the Gurnee raid. Two days later, Posey was gunned down in a River North nightclub. Prosecutors charged alleged gang member Michael Selvie with the murder.
March 7, 2007
BY ERIC HERMAN Staff Reporter
eherman@suntimes.com
This guy definitely needs some jail time, it'll do him some good. He got to play in the SB, now its time to reflect on what he really wants to be. A football player or a thug.
Johnson, 25, will be sentenced March 15. Last month in a Skokie courtroom, he admitted to violating the terms of his probation, which arose from an earlier weapons conviction. Johnson's lawyer, Lorna Propes, declined to comment Tuesday. During a court hearing at Johnson's guilty plea last month, the defense called witnesses to attest to Johnson's good character. Lineman could be sentenced to year.
Friend killed
The defensive lineman faces up to one year in jail for violating his probation by having guns in his Gurnee home when police raided it Dec. 14, 2006. Johnson's probation arose from a June 2005 case, in which police arrested Johnson after finding a loaded handgun in his truck outside a nightclub. In November 2005, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours of community service.
His probation was set to end May 3, 2007, but the Gurnee raid yielded weapons and marijuana from Johnson's home. Johnson has pleaded not guilty to the Lake County gun charges.
Johnson's friend and bodyguard Willie Posey was arrested in the Gurnee raid. Two days later, Posey was gunned down in a River North nightclub. Prosecutors charged alleged gang member Michael Selvie with the murder.
March 7, 2007
BY ERIC HERMAN Staff Reporter
eherman@suntimes.com
This guy definitely needs some jail time, it'll do him some good. He got to play in the SB, now its time to reflect on what he really wants to be. A football player or a thug.