An adult who was involved in a teen mob beating of a man at the Chicago-State Red Line in December 2018 received a two-year prison sentence for his involvement. But, after receiving credit for time spent on electronic monitoring before trial and Illinois’ standard 50% sentence reduction, 19-year-old Michael Sardin was released from state custody on the same day he arrived.
The incident was captured on video by a bystander.
After the attack, police said CTA surveillance cameras recorded Sardin “taking part in an unprovoked, multiple-offender attack of two victims” on the station platform on December 29, 2018. Sardin kicked and punched the victims along with eight to ten other offenders, according to a CPD media statement that was released after Sardin’s arrest.
One of the victims suffered broken bones and cuts, including a shattered eye socket, prosecutors alleged. At least three juveniles were also charged in the case.
Sardin agreed to plead guilty to one count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm in exchange for the sentence and the dropping of six other felonies, including mob action, according to court records.
He spent over 300 days on electronic monitoring before the case was resolved. Judge Mary Margaret Brosnahan credited those days toward his two-year sentence. The state also applied its standard 50% sentence reduction for good behavior. When it was all said and done, Sardin went home just hours after he was placed into state custody.