Mitchell: Light punishment for Garcia’s son raises questions

SHARE Mitchell: Light punishment for Garcia’s son raises questions

When you’re the son of a Chicago politician, people must naturally look out for you.

At least that’s how it seemed to work for Samuel Garcia, 31, the son of mayoral candidate Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

On Monday, Dan Mihalopoulos reported Mayer Brown LLP, a politically connected law firm, represented Garcia’s son — for free — on a 2007 felony case.

At the time, the elder Garcia was running a not-for-profit organization in Little Village, but had been both an alderman and a state senator.

Five years later, as a member of the county board, Jesus Garcia co-sponsored a measure that gave Mayer Brown the lucrative job of representing the county, Mihalopoulos reported.

The elder Garcia, who is a mayoral candidate, has denied asking someone at the law firm to do him any favors.

“I did not ask them to represent my son. My son was an adult,” Garcia said in response to the reporter’s inquiries.

However it happened, the legal services were free, making the arrangement look like old-school Chicago politics.

I’ve worked for some of the largest law firms in the city. The one thing I know about lawyers is they don’t like to give away their time.

Pro bono representation is usually reserved for high profile or challenging cases that could set a legal precedent, or for causes the firm’s lawyers strongly believe in, or for cases deemed to be in the public interest.

For instance, Jenner & Block has represented Jesse Webster, pro bono, in his efforts to seek clemency. The former drug dealer was sentenced to life in prison for a non-violent drug offense. His plight highlights the unfairness of mandatory minimum sentences.

Samuel Garcia’s case was strictly about him.

He was accused of  “throwing a steel-headed hammer” at two off-duty police officers who were sitting in a car, then telling police officers: “I’m glad that car belonged to a cop. I wish I could have f—-it up more,” according to a police report.

It is miracle Garcia wasn’t killed.

After all, police officers have shot young black male suspects for far less, mistakenly believing they had a gun tucked in their waistbands.

Although Garcia had been charged with felony aggravated assault, he ended up being convicted on a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property. His punishment: one year of probation.

In 2013, Garcia was arrested again for another police-related incident. This time he allegedly yelled racial slurs, threw an unidentified liquid on a police officer, and threatened to shoot the officer.

Despite the serious charges against him — felony aggravated assault and aggravated battery to a police officer — Garcia was offered a plea bargain and got 18 months probation.

That was quite the lucky break.

A 2013 criminal court filing, which sought to exclude his criminal history, shows Garcia was a neighborhood menace.

Besides aggravated assault charges, he has been arrested for misdemeanor trespass to land, driving without insurance, driving on a suspended license, and the improper use of registration/title; public drinking; possession of cannabis and possession of a firearm without a valid FOID.

Most people with Garcia’s background end up standing before the judge with a harried public defender digging through a shopping cart full of manila folders.

But Garcia had the services of a law firm that is rated among the best in the city.

I can understand why people who respect Jesus Garcia’s commitment to public service would support his efforts to defend his son.

After all, despite our dismay, most parents in Garcia’s position would use their resources to help a child in trouble.

Still, it will be difficult for him to convince voters that safety is a top priority, when it appears his own son got a slap on the wrist.


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