Ex-death row inmate acquitted at retrial

A 55-year-old former Chicago gang member who spent more than a decade on death row after being convicted by a corrupt judge was acquitted Wednesday in a retrial.

"I feel like my prayers have been answered," Nathson Fields said after the verdict. "It's been 24 years of this ordeal for my family and my friends, and now with it coming to an end, it's like a dream come true."

In 1986, Cook County Judge Thomas Maloney sentenced Fields and co-defendant Earl Hawkins to death for the double murder of rival gang members. Both were members of the El Rukn street gang.

Their convictions were overturned after Maloney was sent to federal prison for acquitting defendants in exchange for payoffs, including in their case. Maloney took a bribe from Hawkins' lawyer to acquit the men but then learned he was under federal investigation, returned the money and convicted them.

Both Hawkins and Fields were granted new trials, and Fields was released on bond in 2003.

Hawkins entered a plea agreement with prosecutors in exchange for testimony against Fields, but Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan said Wednesday he found his statements "incredible."

"If someone has such disregard for human life, what regard will he have for his oath?" Gaughan said, noting that Hawkins has admitted to being involved in up to 20 murders during his days with the El Rukns.

After the verdict, Fields said he's looking forward to moving on with his life.

"Maybe a vacation," he said. "Somewhere on the West Coast. I've never seen an ocean, never seen any mountains. I'm kind of behind on that kind of stuff."