Carolyn Cox Called

Remember Carolyn Cox.

She was the woman about my age who was battered by her husband, the honcho at Exacto on Route 31 between Ringwood and Richmond.

She was left to die in a garage filling up with exhaust fumes.

The case is turning out to be an important piece of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s re-election campaign.

About noon I got a recorded call from Cox, a woman of my generation.

I saw it was from an 800 number and almost hung up, thinking it was a sales or donation solicitation.

She introduced herself and outlined what happened.

I jotted down snatches of what she said:

“…left for dead…My family is safe again….Crime victims need a State’s Attorney who will fight for them all the way…”

There was a pitch for Bianchi, but I didn’t get the exact words.

This is obviously a multi-media campaign.

I have seen an 8½ by 11-inch piece that has a big picture of Cox and Bianchi.

I found it.

As I read it, it sounds exactly like what she said on the phone:

”My name is Carolyn Cox and I was the victim of a horrendous crime.

“I was bludgeoned by my husband, locked in our garage with running cars and left for dead.

“I survived and my husband was successfully prosecuted thanks to Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney.

“Lou Bianchi is the first State’s Attorney to treat my case with the attention it deserved.

“Until Lou was voted into office, I was never convinced that the prior administration was truly working on my behalf.

“Lou Bianchi and his administration convicted my husband and sought the maximum 60 years in prison.

“Crime victims deserve a State’s Attorney who will fight for them every step of the way.

“Lou Bianchi is that man.

“Justice and safety for crime victims is essential!

“I encourage you to vote for LOU BIANCHI, McHenry County State’s Attorney on February 5, 2008.”

But, the case is more significant that Cox’ message or Bianchi’s literature indicates.

B.J. Cox had to be re-indicted because Dan Regna apparently erred in preparing the first indictment.

That’s what an attorney in the state’s attorney’s office said.

The Regna version didn’t allege that BJ Cox’ actions were done with “intent to kill.”

Without those words in the indictment, the lawyer pointed out, the charge of attempted murder would not have stuck.

Cox had a good defense attorney, Mark Gummerson. Gummerson is one of Regna’s staunch backers.

Without Bianchi’s re-indictment, the defense lawyer would have let the statute of limitations run out and, then, moved for dismissal of that charge, my source says.

That would have left only a charge of aggravated domestic battery, a charge with a much lower maximum sentence.

Regna left something else out, the lawyer pointed out.

That first indictment did not include Mrs. Cox’ age.

Illinois law says that when you try to kill someone over 60, the penalty is higher.

I’m not sure what makes a life of someone my age more important than one of someone younger, but that’s the law.

Probably because older folks tend to vote in much higher numbers that young folks and the bill’s passage gave members of the General Assembly a chance to pander to those over 60 in their next campaign brochures.

In any event, the maximum sentence for Cox would have been 30 years using Regna’s words. By including her age, which was over 60, Bianchi was able to ask for a 60-year sentence, rather than a maximum of 30 years.

Even so, the judge sentenced BJ Cox to 20 years in prison.

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The picture of Lou Bianchi talking was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee’s candidates’ night last Tuesday.


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