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Peoria Co. State's Attorney Calls Escaped Inmate a Seasoned Criminal

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By Ashley McNamee

Story Published: Nov 19, 2009 at 7:21 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009 at 11:29 PM CDT

Aaron Cook had been in the Peoria Country Jail awaiting his trial for four months, James Fuller for two years.

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Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons called the length of their time in jail unusual, as it takes most inmates 76 days to work their way through the system.

Lyons called Fuller a seasoned criminal who knows how to play the court. He said over the last two years Fuller had gone through four public defenders, including trying at one point an attempt to represent himself.

Lyons says each time Fuller would do that, it would delay his case.

"It is a matter of a court having this docket, with a number of felony cases, 16 to 20 every Monday. If it is something that cannot be resolved that day, and with Mr. Fuller being the mastermind of messing it up, the court will review it, but not that day," said Lyons.

Lyons says both men are facing anywhere from six to thirty years, without probation, for the crimes they are accused of.

Now they're also being charged with felony escape which could mean up to seven more years.

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View Oldest Comments First

Friday, Nov 20 at 6:35 PM Should never have been re elected! wrote ...

Peoria needs to wake up ...Most have seen the DEALS the States Attorney makes with CRIMINALS ..The majority of them are Black and know if the keep voting for Lyons , none of them will EVER DO HARD TIME , Any one remember the SWEET deal the Bradley 4 got ?.....

Friday, Nov 20 at 6:24 PM c/o wrote ...

if they wouldnt have broke the law they wouldnt be there in the first place

Friday, Nov 20 at 2:51 PM HUN AGAIN wrote ...

I know personally that Cook's case has been continued at least 4 or 5 times and that wasn't his doing.. it was the court that continued it... we need to get these guys in the prison system so they don't finally get there and get their time in jail removed from their sentence

Friday, Nov 20 at 2:43 PM HUN wrote ...

Aaron Cook wasn't in jail for only 4 months.. he's been in jail since March 28 09... that's almost 8 months awaiting trial.. he was in on the plan to break out for 4 months!

Friday, Nov 20 at 1:33 PM Anonymous wrote ...

He's not blaming the inmate. He's stating that the inmate is very good at using the system to beat the system. He's using all the legal loopholes that are in place to ensure due process to delay being prosecuted. And for everyone who is whining about all this, if you can do the job better then go do it and stop complaining.

Friday, Nov 20 at 10:33 AM lyons sucks wrote ...

then why Mr. Lyons are YOU dragging out the case against those 3 cops that you charged earlier this year? plain and simple, get a new states attorney....idiot

Friday, Nov 20 at 9:56 AM Anonymous wrote ...

how are u gonna blame it on inmate for being there so long?? Thats why they were tryin to get out!!! Get them into prison, problem fixed

Thursday, Nov 19 at 11:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Its the system not the inmate. i think lyons is trying to cover everyones but for making that statement! and ya i do blame the police, how could you not notice something like that!!!!!!

Thursday, Nov 19 at 9:10 PM Anonymous wrote ...

it is the system.. two years in jail that's two years to many for my taxes to pay for there room and board..

Thursday, Nov 19 at 7:52 PM to anonymous wrote ...

why would you side with the convict they are both to blame for it taking so long im sure next you will blame it on mccoy and all the police

Thursday, Nov 19 at 7:26 PM Anonymous wrote ...

now your going to put the blame on the inmate for being in peoria jail for so long! its not the inmates fault its the systems!

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