Saturday, February 2, 2013

Illinois Cook County Sheriff Cites Clerical Error For Releasing Convicted Murderer

Steven L. Robbins

Photos: Cook County Sheriff's Office

Robbins, a convicted killer from Indiana taken into custody in Illinois after a court clerical error released him in Cook County after a 1993 warrant for drug and weapons charges was dropped.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 2, 2013

Chicago, IL - On late Friday night, the Cook County Sheriff's Office confirmed, that Steven L. Robbins, 44, a convicted murderer had been taken into custody in Kankakee, IL without incident by Cook County Sheriff's Police. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart during a news conference attributed a court "clerical error" for Robbins release from custody on Wednesday night. 
Information from Robbins family, friends and acquaintances led the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Illinois State Police to determine his location. Cook County Sheriff's Police arrested Robbins without incident at the 1400 block of Frasier Ave. in Kankakee less than 24 hours after he was mistakenly released from the Cook County jail.
Robbins, who was convicted in 2002 for a homicide in Indiana was extradited to Illinois to face several 1993 felony drug and weapons charges, according to the Indiana Department of Corrections. An outstanding warrant for Robbins to face felony charges was dropped on Wednesday by a Cook County judge.
Instead of Robbins being held on the murder conviction and returned to Indiana to finish his 60-year term for murder. He was released and set free by Cook County Court officials and sheriff's department.
Two days before Robbins was extradited to Illinois, a state attorney informed the sheriff's department that the charges Robbins was facing in Illinois had been dismissed in 2007. But a warrant was still active for Robbins. The sheriff's extradition unit and fugitive unit continued to seek extradition for Robbins and he was brought back to Illinois to face charges. 

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