COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — At a sentencing hearing Friday, Reginald Potts proclaimed his innocence in the 2007 murder of Nailah Franklin — insisting that he's "not a monster" and will appeal the case.
"I did not stalk Nailah. I did not murder Nailah. Period," Potts said.
Potts, 38, was convicted Nov. 10 of brutally murdering Franklin in 2007. The 28-year-old pharmaceutical rep was missing for nine days before authorities found her body, naked and decomposed, behind Potts' brother-in-law's vacant video store.
A lengthy sentencing hearing began Monday.
Potts took the floor for 40 minutes Friday to insist he was innocent, talk about his family and address past legal woes. Potts repeatedly claimed Franklin was never a girlfriend — just a hookup — and offered condolences to Franklin's mother, who promptly left the courtroom.
"I am not a monster," Potts said. "I am not the person they are trying to portray me as in this courtroom."
Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy during her closing argument Friday called Potts "an abuser and a liar" — "a danger to free people in society."
"You can't believe a word that comes out of his mouth," McCarthy said. "If he tells you what time it is, look at your watch."
McCarthy detailed Potts' lengthy criminal record — which includes nine felony convictions and 189 infractions in Cook County Jail alone — as she urged Judge Thomas Gainer to consider issuing a life sentence without parole.
Nailah Franklin was missing for nine days before her body was found in suburban Calumet City.
The judge is expected to announce Potts' sentence at 1 p.m. Tuesday. According to state law, Potts could serve anywhere from 20 years in prison to a natural-life sentence with no chance of parole.
Assistant Public Defender Crystal Marchigiani asked for a lenient term, encouraging Judge Gainer to focus on law rather than "emotion or passion or opinion."
Potts asked the judge for mercy and compassion but said "I cannot ask for forgiveness for something I didn't do." Potts repeatedly asserted his innocence Friday, but failed to address any key trial evidence.
"I believe that one day the decision will come that I'm innocent," Potts said. "I'm not going to be in anyone's jail rotting away ... suffering. I'm going to use that time to prove my innocence."
Potts was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 10 following a 10-day trial and just two hours of deliberation.
During the trial, prosecutors painted Potts as arrogant and narcissistic — claiming he stalked, harassed and threatened Franklin in the weeks prior to her death. They laid out a history of domestic violence against other women and shared derogatory emails and voicemails that Potts sent Franklin.
RELATED: Nailah Franklin's Jilted Ex Vowed to 'Erase' Her Before Murder: Prosecutors
Franklin was last seen alive on Sept. 18, 2007, standing with Potts inside her University Village condo building. Prosecutors claim Potts murdered Franklin that day before dumping her body in suburban Calumet City and stealing her phone. Potts then pretended Franklin was still alive by texting responses to her incoming messages.
Cellphone data shows the pair's phones traveling together from Chicago to Calumet City and back again on Sept. 18, 2007.
Potts' attorneys were quick to point out that the state's case was purely circumstantial. There were neither eyewitnesses nor physical evidence linking Potts to the murder. Potts declined to testify during the trial.
For more information on the case:
• Nieces 'Will Never Know' Nailah Franklin: Family Pushes for Stiff Sentence
• Brother Remembers Slain Nailah Franklin at Murderer's Sentencing
• Reginald Potts Found Guilty of Murdering Nailah Franklin
• Nailah Franklin's Alleged Killer Threatened To Release Sex Tape, Emails Say
• Nailah Franklin's Jilted Ex Vowed to 'Erase' Her Before Murder: Prosecutors
• After 8 Years, Reginald Potts to Stand Trial for Nailah Franklin Murder
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