Cook County prosecutors Monday dropped a pair of murder convictions against two men who were convicted as teenagers in separate murder cases.
Special Prosecutor Robert Milan announced he was dropping the charges against Jakes for the 1991 murder of Rafael Garcia – a crime Jakes had been arrested for just two months after his 15th birthday.
In another courtroom, less than an hour later, Assistant State’s Attorney Carol Rogala said her office had agreed to vacate Bouto’s conviction for the 1993 murder of Salvador Ruvalcaba.
The two men, who already had served out their sentences — 22 years in prison for Bouto and 23 for Jakes— struck a triumphant tone as they spoke to a throng of reporters, but lamented the decades lost.
AS REPORTED BY THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES
Check out the video below for the full story and to hear what Bouto and Jakes had to say.