Public Defender Aide Held in Sting: Police Say Employee Fenced Stolen Goods
Posted on: Wednesday, 5 April 2006, 09:01 CDT
By David Heinzmann, Chicago Tribune
Apr. 5--One of William Garmon's jobs is an investigator for the Cook County public defender's office, where he digs up information that might help people accused of crimes.
In his other job, police and prosecutors allege, he fences stolen goods at Mega Video, the video and electronics store he runs on the West Side.
Garmon, of the 0-100 block of North Parkside Avenue, was charged late last week after an undercover officer offered to sell him 10 stolen cell phones at a fraction of their retail price. Police were investigating the store, 5224 W. North Ave., as part of a probe of businesses that knowingly deal in stolen property.
On Friday, the officer entered the store at about 2 p.m. and told Garmon he wanted to sell the stolen phones, prosecutors said. Garmon allegedly agreed to pay $200 for the phones, which authorities said had a retail value of $619.
Investigators said the undercover officer explicitly told Garmon the phones were stolen. The exchange with the officer was captured on videotape, prosecutors said.
As he was being taken into custody, detectives noticed that he had a badge, police said.
Garmon, 44, has been an investigator with the public defender's office since 1994, public records show.
"We're taking away his cases while this is pending and not assigning him any new cases," Deputy Public Defender Furmin Sessoms said Tuesday. But Garmon will not be suspended.
"He is presumed innocent until proven otherwise," Sessoms said.
Sessoms said investigators in the office do not carry guns. As part of his job, Garmon would assist defense lawyers with uncovering and documenting information to be used in criminal cases.
Reached by telephone at the store Tuesday afternoon, Garmon declined comment but said he did not think his "personal business" should be made public by the newspaper.
dheinzmann@tribune.com
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Source: Chicago Tribune
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