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Posted on 03/11/2006 7:54:58 AM PST by rightnwrong
Edited on 03/11/2006 9:40:23 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Trooper gets 6 months for forcing 2 to strip
March 10, 2006
BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter
An Illinois State Police trooper who ordered a young couple to strip is "smug,'' not sorry, a Cook County judge said Thursday as he sentenced Jeremy Dozier to six months in jail.
Judge Thomas Fecarotta ripped Dozier for his attitude, saying the 10-year police veteran never showed any remorse for demanding that the man and woman he found in a parked car last June 16 remove their clothing.
"He's not sorry. He comes across to this court as being smug,'' said Fecarotta, who also placed Dozier on probation for 30 months and ordered him to perform 300 hours of community service work.
Dozier, 32, was taken into custody immediately after he was sentenced.
The trooper, who has been suspended by State Police, could have been sentenced to as much as seven years in prison for official misconduct and bribery.
Fecarotta said he decided against a prison term because Dozier had a strong record as a state trooper, receiving several commendations and awards. He ordered Dozier to undergo a psychological evaluation as part of his sentence.
"I cannot overlook the years of service,'' Fecarotta said, adding "something went awry with Jeremy Dozier.''
The trooper was convicted in January of ordering two young people he found parked along Interstate 94 to strip as an impromptu punishment after a Breathalyzer test showed the two had been drinking.
Dimitry Baum and Maria Boyko, who were returning home from a night out in Chicago when they encountered Dozier, said Thursday they were pleased with the sentence.
"I'm just satisfied he got some jail time,'' said Baum, a 23-year-old college student. "Probation would be a slap on the wrist.''
"We think it's a fair sentence,'' said Assistant State's Attorney William Merritt, who along with Karen Crothers and Dianne Ghaster, prosecuted Dozier.
Naked 'snow angel' case pending
Dozier attorney Ralph Meczyk had sought probation.
"I would ask you to not forget all the good Jeremy Dozier has done,'' Meczyk told Fecarotta.
Dozier's girlfriend said she believes Dozier was "railroaded.''
"Jeremy has been railroaded, wrongfully accused and convicted,'' Stefanie Moylan said in a written statement, calling Dozier "the kindest, most sincere, faithful and hard-working person I know.''
Dozier, who denied during his trial that he ordered the two young motorists to strip, still faces felony charges in Lake County for allegedly ordering two other young couples to remove their clothing. In one of those cases, he's accused of forcing an 18-year-old Gurnee girl and her boyfriend to strip naked and make "snow angels'' on the ground.
No it's not.
The p is silent in pneumonia ? Wow I have got to let half the folks in my family know ;-)
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