Felon Out On Bond After Guns And Drugs Were Found In Home: O'Shea

CHICAGO — Ald. Matt O’Shea is alerting 19th Ward residents of the release of a convicted felon walking the streets after he posted bond on drug and gun charges.

Cook County Sheriff’s police made a traffic stop on Sean Dwyer, 51, in the 5300 block of South Morgan Street on Aug. 17. The sheriff’s office said officers found 550 grams of cocaine in his vehicle. A search of Dwyer’s home in the 10900 block of South California recovered two 9 mm handguns, 1.1 kilograms of cocaine and a large amount of cash, according to the charges.

In 1993, prison Dwyer was sentenced to 12 years in prison for ethnic intimidation, attempted murder and robbery. In 2010, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for manufacture and delivery of cocaine.

Two days after his arrest, Dwyer appeared before Cook County Judge Kelly Marie McCarthy, who received a $15,000 D-bond. He posted $1,500 and walked out the door, O’Shea said.

“Given the amount of drugs and guns in his possession, as well as his criminal history, Sean Dwyer should not be on the streets today,” O’Shea said in an email to residents. “Releasing him was a dangerous, irresponsible decision on the part of Judge McCarthy. This case is emblematic of a broken criminal system that, if uncorrected, will exacerbate Chicago’s violence problem.

“When an offender with a violent history is brought before a judge on new charges involving a weapon, that offender should remain behind bars through the disposition of their case. This is both obvious and necessary to ensure the safety of the general public. If our system of justice does not allow for this, then the system needs to be changed. If we have elected Judges who do not recognize this, those Judges should be voted out of office.”

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting an internal investigation on a sheriff’s deputy said to be living with Dwyer, who was selling illegal drugs out of the house. The deputy was de-deputized when the warrant was being served, and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. No criminal charges have been filed against the deputy, reports said.

O’Shea told residents he asked the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to petition the trial court judge for a new bond determination. Dwyer is due back in court Sept. 9.

“Sean Dwyer belongs in Cook County Jail, not on the streets of Chicago,” the alderman said.