Free Republic

Chicago (AP) -- A former death row inmate who came to symbolize a broken criminal justice system was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison for trading in guns and drugs. Aaron Patterson, 43, gained international fame when he was one of four men pardoned by then-Gov. George Ryan, who also reduced to life in prison the death sentences of every inmate on Illinois' death row. But in 2005 he was convicted on the new charges, and federal prosecutors claim he coordinated gang activities while he was in prison. Patterson entered the courtroom Tuesday yelling and cursing at his attorneys...

Former death row inmate fights to avoid return trip to prison Tuesday, July 5, 2005 By Mike Robinson The Associated Press Aaron Patterson walked out of prison two years ago, a free man with a pardon from Gov. George Ryan and a chance to start fresh. But the happy ending never came for Patterson, whose story of torture by police and long years on death row helped to launch an emotional campaign against the death penalty in Illinois. These days, the 40-year-old Patterson sits glumly in a federal jail awaiting the start of jury selection today in a drug...

CHICAGO (AP) - There is no question Aaron Patterson hasn't lived in the district he wants to represent in the Illinois House for the required two years. He was only released from death row 14 months ago. The 39-year-old Patterson may be the most unusual candidate on Tuesday's primary ballot. A former gang member, he is using other gang members to spread the word about his campaign. "We're trying to do something to change the whole dynamics of politics," said Patterson, who was convicted of killing an elderly Chicago couple in 1986 and served 17 years before being pardoned by...