COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A man in Cook County Jail on sex assault and kidnapping charges attacked the public defender assigned to defend him, knocking the attorney unconscious, prosecutors said.
Jimmie Smith, 39, represented himself in court Thursday on new charges of attempted first-degree murder for the attack on the public defender, telling the judge, "I can represent myself. I don't want a bond."
Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said Smith was meeting with two public defenders at the jail on Dec. 10 when he told the attorneys he was going back to his cell to get more paperwork. When he came back and refused to show the paperwork, the public defenders prepared to leave, Antonietti said.
That's when Smith attacked, pulling a homemade knife and hitting one of the public defenders with it before dropping it and starting to punch him, Antonietti said. When jail guards got him off the public defender, the attorney collapsed, unconscious, she said.
The attorney suffered head trauma, a broken bone in his face and cuts in both ears, Antonietti said.
Smith already was being held without bail on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual assault and possessing contraband in the jail, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said.
Smith was convicted of attempted murder in 1996 and sentenced to 14 years in prison, Antonietti said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
