Man gets probation rather than boot camp in burglary case

Outside a felony courtroom in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday, the sobs coming from the defendant's family and friends had nothing to do with grief and everything to do with relief.

Relief that 20-year-old Zaire Harris, a Maywood resident with no criminal background, would not spend the next four to 15 years in prison, but would instead receive 30 months probation in exchange for pleading guilty to burglary and forgery.

Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas Fecarotta referenced the former Harper College student's lack of criminal background Wednesday as he imposed the sentence which includes victim restitution and probation with counseling called Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities. The program provides mental health and substance abuse counseling as an alternative to prison for nonviolent offenders who meet certain statutory requirements.

Fecarotta also noted that in 11 years on the bench, he hasn't encountered many defendants like Harris.

"I get a lot of young people before me," he said. "It's rare that I get someone like you, who has everything going for him (who) chucks it away- instead of being grateful."

Prosecutors say that Harris took blank checks from a Schaumburg couple in April and forged two checks, payable to himself, for a total of $3,500. The following month, Harris took a check from the backpack of a fellow Harper College student, made it out to himself in the amount of $3,000 and forged the student's signature, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Piper.

Prosecutors asked the court to sentence Harris to boot camp, but Fecarotta determined the probation with counseling program a more appropriate sentence.

"I'm doing this because I have a feeling you're not going to be back," he said, adding "I'm putting my neck on the line for you."

A chorus of quiet gasps, joyful tears and muffled sobs greeted Fecarotta's pronouncement as Harris wiped a tear from his eye.

Acknowledging the more than one dozen friends and family members present for the sentencing, Fecarotta said he believes Harris has the support necessary for him to complete the probation successfully.

He also noted that if Harris successfully concludes his probation, after five years he can apply to have the charge expunged from his record.

"You don't know what a gift that is," he said.

The response from Harris and his family suggests they understood very well.