18 more convictions tied to corrupt Chicago cop to be tossed

CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors say they will dismiss the convictions of 18 more people that resulted from investigations by a corrupt police sergeant and his crew of tactical officers.

The Chicago Tribune reports the exonerations will take place Monday. They will bring the total number of overturned convictions linked to Sgt. Ronald Watts since 2016 to 42.

Court records show the latest dismissals involve drug cases brought between 2003 and 2008 that resulted in prison time. The defendants have since been released.

Attorney Joshua Tepfer, who represented 12 of the men whose cases will be dismissed Monday, says the fact Watts operated for years even though his corruption was an “open secret” illustrates a “total failure of the system.”

Watts and was convicted of extortion in 2013 and got out of prison in 2015.

___

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com