No Jail for Cop Taped Beating Female Bartender

Yahoo News reports that Anthony Abbate, the off-duty Chicago cop taped beating a female bartender, was sentenced to nothing more than probation for the taped beating that flooded the internet and cable news channels all over the world.

Despite the evidence of the taped beating, Cook County Circuit Judge John Flemming only sentence Abbate on Tuesday to two years probation and ordered him to attend anger management classes.

Prosecutors were seeking a prison sentence for Abbate, but apparently the taped beating wasn't enough for Judge Flemming who said he didn't see aggravating factors to justify a prison term.

"If I believed sentencing Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting people, I'd give him the maximum sentence," Fleming said.

The taped beating shows a 250-pound Abbate punching and kicking the 125-pound Karolina Obrycka after she refused to serve him more drinks because he was too drunk.

Abbate unsuccessfully claimed that he was acting in self-defense as Obrycka pushed him first as she tried to remove him from behind the bar. The taped beating clearly shows that this was in no way self-defense.

Abbate has been relieved of his duties and pay.

The taped beating represents yet another example of misconduct by Chicago police. Superintendent Phil Cline suddenly announced his retirement shortly after the taped beating surfaced. Former FBI official Jody Weis was appointed to the spot with an order to clean up the department's tarnished image.

Author's name: Gabriel Dorman
Author's e-mail: gabedorman@gmail.com
Author's blog URL: www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/