Chicago - A judge said the mother of a 5-year-old boy killed in a drunk driving accident in Steger deserves part of the blame.
The judge made his remarks at the sentencing of the woman's boyfriend, who was behind the wheel.
“I was in the police car,†Kathy LaFond said. “I was handcuffed, I had no way of saying, ‘Take my car Cecil, take my car.’â€
LaFond was upset at a judge's suggestion Monday night, that she was partly responsible for the death of her 5-year-old son Michael.
The youngster died in a car accident in May of 2010. LaFond had been driving the car, but was ticketed and taken into custody for having a suspended license.
Chicago Heights police officer Christopher Felicetti then allowed her boyfriend, Cecil Conner, to drive away with the boy sleeping in the backseat. But Conner was drunk. He crashed into a tree, killing Michael.
On Friday, Conner was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison, but LaFond said her ex-boyfriend shouldn't be the one doing the time.
“Cecil would have never got in the car accident if the cop hadn't given him the keys to my car,†LaFond said. “My son would be here and Cecil wouldn't be in jail right now.â€
owever, Will County Judge Edward Burmila said that while Officer Felicetti could have prevented the accident, he didn't cause it.
He also said it was the boy's mother who “induced," Connor to drive. LaFond's attorney Mark Horowitz said that statement is false.
“The police officer needs to bear some responsibility,†Horwitz said. “If not criminal, then we're going to have our day in court, which means money.â€
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Before he was sentenced, Cecil Connor broke down and cried, saying he would have acted differently if he thought that one night of partying could turn into a lifetime of painful memories.
