Gov. Quinn commutes Howard Morgan sentence

Wife asks Rauner for a pardon with expungement

By Chinta Strausberg

While outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn Monday commuted the 40-year sentence of former Chicago policeman turned railroad detective Howard Morgan, who was shot 28 times by four white cops, his wife, Rosalind Morgan, said the battle to clear her husband’s name continues.

“I am grateful that Gov. Quinn had showed mercy pertaining to the injustice because this is a grave injustice, but the fight still goes on,” Mrs. Morgan told this reporter late Monday night.

Mrs. Morgan was referring to February 21, 2005 when her then 53-year-old husband was shot 28 times. He was charged with aggravated battery, firing a gun and attempted murder. The officers were not charged at all.

In 2007, Mr. Morgan was found not guilty of battery and of not discharging a gun; however jurors had no verdict on the attempted murder trial, which triggered a second trial resulting in his conviction in January of 2012. Judge Clayton Crane sentenced him to 40-years in prison.                               

One of Mrs. Morgan’s attorneys, who asked not to be named, said Mr. Morgan would be released since Quinn commuted his sentence but that Quinn could have pardoned Mr. Morgan.

But, commuting Morgan’s sentence is a good start. He will be released from Dixon Prison time served perhaps as early as this week, according to one of Mrs. Morgan’s lawyers. She said his release is based on how fast prison officials can get the paperwork done.

Once he has been released, he lawyer said Mrs. Morgan would ask Gov. Rauner for a pardon based on innocence with an expungement. “This fight is not over,” Mrs. Morgan told this reporter.

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