“The summons to court serves the same function as an indictment. No DA needed. The police officers provide the “charging” function in this case. The defendant can either plead guilty and pay the fine, or plead innocent in front of the judge. “
What are you pleading to? What would go on his record?
Even the fact that he was charged/ticketed goes on his record. The ticket is for disorderly conduct.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The story below was based on several news stories based entirely on the word of Rodney Peterson, who claimed he simply offered to give two underdressed teenagers a ride home in a snowstorm. Peterson on Monday pled guilty to a Disorderly Conduct charge. Why? Because his story was mostly bogus. We received this note from the Office of the Chief of Police in Barrington:The Truth About Our Stranger-Danger Society - Slade Sohmer (hypervocal.com)
He was sentenced by Judge Anthony Iosco to two years supervision, a $400 fine and prohibited from having contact with the two students or their families. Mr. Peterson was represented by an attorney in the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows, IL. The students and their families were present in court.Police provided evidence to the Village Prosecutor that, contrary to news reports and Mr. Peterson's statements to police and the press, there was no snowstorm yet nor was it snowing at the time of the incident. Further, investigation leading up to the charges showed that the students were dressed properly for the weather in coats and one wearing boots. That evidence came from area business security camera video and squad car camera video of unrelated police traffic stops at the time the incident first occurred.After first spotting the students at a gas station Mr. Peterson lost sight of them. A couple minutes later after paying for his gas, he drove down the alley into the neighborhood to look for them. They were not in any distress or in need of any assistance whatsoever. It wasn't dark out and they were in a residential neighborhood. Mr. Peterson tried to engage the students, asking them how far they had to walk home and if they needed a ride. The students said they did not have far to walk and waived him on.