Chicago taxpayers may soon be responsible for paying $13.75 million to resolve police misconduct lawsuits despite the belief of Cook County’s top prosecutor that two men are guilty. On Monday, aldermen advanced settlements for Gabriel Solache and Arturo DeLeon-Reyes. The City Council Finance Committee recommended these settlements to end lawsuits alleging that former Detective Reynaldo Guevara obtained their false confessions through deceit and beatings.
Solache and DeLeon-Reyes were convicted in 2000 for the murder of Mariano Soto and his wife, Jacinta, and for kidnapping their children. They have since received certificates of innocence, along with many others under Guevara’s tarnished investigations. The initial motive for the crime was linked to Adriana Mejia’s desire for a baby. Mejia was sentenced to life in state prison.
Law Department attorney Jessica Felker highlighted Mejia’s contradictory statements to police and asserted that Guevara fabricated their confessions in English. The lack of physical evidence, aside from blood on Mejia’s clothing, led to their convictions being overturned. Guevara’s reputation has tarnished the reliability of their confessions.
In 2017, a judge overturned their convictions, criticizing Guevara’s credibility. The charges were dropped by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who later acknowledged disbelief in the men’s innocence despite court findings against Guevara’s credibility.
With approximately 40 more Guevara-related cases pending, aldermen expressed concern about future settlement costs before approving the deals. If approved by the City Council, Solache will receive $6 million, and DeLeon-Reyes will receive $7.75 million. Aldermen considered a ‘global settlement’ strategy to address numerous cases efficiently.
The Finance Committee also advanced a $6 million settlement for Michael A. Jordan’s family, who was killed by a driver evading police. Additionally, a $225,000 settlement was proposed for Lorenzo Williams, who alleged excessive force during his arrest while resisting. Police recovered a firearm from Williams, leading to his guilty plea for unlawful possession.