CHICAGO (AP) – Special Prosecutor Joseph McMahon and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul have discussed a potential legal challenge to the sentence handed former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports a conference call between the two was held Monday. They are considering a trial to overturn the 81-month sentence handed Van Dyke by Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan.
McMahon says he plans to decide by March 1 on whether to petition the state Supreme Court to send the case back to Gaughan for a new prison sentence.
Van Dyke was convicted of murder and aggravated assault in the 2014 death of Laquan McDonald. The murder conviction carries a four- to 20-year penalty. The 16 counts of aggravated battery carry a penalty of between six and 30 years for each count. Under his sentence, Van Dyke could be released in fewer than four years with credit for good behavior.