Former Illinois Congressman Mel Reynolds talks on his cell phone as he leaves federal court in Chicago, Thursday, July 30, 2015, after pleading not guilty to federal tax charges. A lawyer has said Reynolds found a place to spend Thursday night and believes he has suitable long-term accommodations.
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The housing issues arose when the hearing moved to questions about bond. Following the 1995 sexual abuse conviction, Reynolds spent two and half years in a state jail, then one other three and a half years in federal custody after he was discovered responsible in an unrelated marketing campaign and financial institution fraud case.
Reynolds wasn’t required to register as a sex offender.
A South Side Chicago residence where Reynolds lived recently was ruled out because it’s within 1,000 feet of a school. A suburban Bartlett house where Reynolds said he could stay with an acquaintance was excluded because it’s close to a children’s center.
“I don’t know where he’s going to stay”. But after court, Kling said that flies in the face of how much bigger fish were treated in the same court.
Mel Reynolds’ legal saga took yet another twist Friday.
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In the end, the judge denied the government’s request for electronic monitoring, but set a condition of bond that Reynolds must report any change in his living arrangements within 24 hours. Reynolds’ daughter is seriously ill in Africa, Kling said, and his client would like the option of traveling to see her.
