Brothers Convicted In Olympic Protest-Turned-Skirmish
CHICAGO (STMG) -- Two of six people were convicted on Thursday for their alleged involvement in damaging a 2016 Olympic banner being put on the Daley Center's Picasso statue during the push to host the games last year.
Jeremy Hammond, 24, of Chicago and his twin brother, Jason Hammond of Glendale Heights were convicted of mob action following a bench trial, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.
Jeremy Sorkin, 21, of Chicago and Brian C. Brown, 22, of Itasca were acquitted, Conklin said.
Two other defendants, 21-year-old Johnathon Clark of North Carolina and 20-year-old Anna Stafford of Wheatfield, Ind., pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor charges and were sentenced to court supervision and community service, Conklin said.
The anti-Olympics group damaged the banner on Sept. 30, 2009, as it was being placed on the Picasso, police said. A bike cop also got into a scrape with five of the protesters, who were then arrested, police said.
The six were initially charged with mob action and criminal damage to property, police said. All but Brown was also charged with resisting and obstructing a peace officer.
Just two days later, Chicago was the first of four finalists to be eliminated by the International Olympic Committee.
The Hammond brothers will be sentenced Nov. 29, Conklin said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
