Prosecutors seek new sentence in McDonald case

CHICAGO – Prosecutors on Monday asked Illinois’ highest court to review the less-than-seven-year prison sentence for the white Chicago police officer who was convicted in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the special prosecutor who won a murder conviction against former officer Jason Van Dyke, Kane County State’s Attorney Joseph McMahon, said they believe Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan improperly applied the law last month when he sentenced Van Dyke to six years and nine months in prison. In a rare move, Raoul and McMahon filed a request with the Illinois Supreme Court seeking an order that would send the case back to Gaughan for a new sentence.