Hearing awaits ex-Illinois judge in courthouse drug case

EAST ST. LOUIS - A former southwestern Illinois judge at the center of a courthouse drug scandal soon could hear his punishment on federal gun and heroin charges.

Michael Cook is to appear Friday for a scheduled sentencing hearing in federal court in East St. Louis. That's where U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade rejected a plea deal the former St. Clair County judge had reached with prosecutors. McDade called the proposed 18-month prison term too lenient.

McDade at that time delayed proceedings for a month, giving both sides time to negotiate a stiffer prison sentence for him to consider. Cook still has the right to withdraw his November guilty plea and request a trial.

Cook resigned last year after being accused of heroin possession and illegally having a firearm.