Cook County Attorney Sentenced in Sexual Misconduct Case

DULUTH- St. Louis county judge, Shaun Floerke considered arguments and pleas from both sides; he heard requests from the victim's family and ultimately decided on jail time for Cook County attorney Tim Scannell.The prosecution asked the judge to sentence Scannell to 180 days in jail along with several years of probation. However, Scannell's attorney said Scannell suffers from severe PTSD and that much time in a segregated population would unravel much of the former attorney's progress. The judge gave Scannell 30 days. Scannell's attorney, Joe Tamburino said, "this man because of the suffering that he had basically back in December, 2011 from being shot four times, changed his life. And when you're suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder it's almost like an organic change in your mind and you're forever not the same." Scannell will also be on probation for 10 years. He will have to register as a sex offender for ten years and he will have to do 300 hours of community service. He also will not be allowed near the victim or her family, or be allowed any unsupervised time with females under the age of 18. Scannell was found guilty in July on two counts of sexual misconduct for his relationship with a 17 year old girl.Scannell did apologize for his behavior and cried saying he could never take his actions back or make amends. The victim's mother told the judge her daughter said that even with the sentencing this would never be over for her.