MOUNT GREENWOOD — Donald Leib, a convicted sex offender, was sentenced to one year in jail Thursday for violating the terms of his release, according to Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).
A Mount Greenwood resident, Leib, 46, violated his registration by attending an annual carnival fundraiser at Queen of Martyrs Parish in late September 2015, according to O'Shea.
A Cook County Circuit Court judge found Leib guilty Dec. 5 of being within 500 feet of a school zone by attending the event. He has been behind bars since the verdict was handed down, O'Shea said.
"I'll take it as a victory," O'Shea said of the sentencing. Leib faced up to six years in prison for his violation, and O'Shea added that he would have liked to have seen a longer sentence handed down.
That said, the Far Southwest Side alderman expects Leib to be given credit for the time he has already served. And with good behavior, Leib could be out of police custody sometime this year.
Thus, O'Shea advised residents to stay vigilant and thanked members of the Court Advocacy program administered by the Chicago Police Department's Morgan Park District for keeping tabs on the case.
According to the Illinois State Police database, Leib was 37 years old when he attempted to lure a 12-year-old child into his vehicle.
"Mr. Leib, who has now been convicted twice, is a dangerous predator. His imprisonment will make our community a safer place for our children. Once released, Leib will remain a registered sex offender," O'Shea wrote in an email to constituents Thursday afternoon.
O'Shea said previously that suburban Evergreen Park police made the arrest at the carnival after a "courageous neighbor" spotted Leib. That same neighbor not only alerted police but provided important testimony at the bench trial.
"This guy was at a carnival surrounded by hundreds of kids. That's scary," he said.
