WILLIAMSON CO., Ill.---Most of the time, a jury trial is the way to go.
However, sometimes, when the authorities have you dead to rights and it's a misdemeanor, you're probably best off just to let it go and take a plea.
That was what happened today in Williamson County with a man who opted for a jury trial and lost big time, with the jury only being out 30 minutes before returning their verdict of guilty.
The defendant was Mohamed Elmhdati, 21, of Carterville, whose 2013 misdemeanor was handled today in a brief jury trial that probably did little but to piss off the judge who's going to pronounce sentencing shortly.
Mohamed Elmhdati
Elmhdati, who has a phenomenally-bad driving history for as young as he is (even worse than Meesha Mocaby's...more on her in a bit), isn't exactly the world's worst crim. However, what he was accused---and found guilty today---of doing is pretty reprehensible for the animal lovers among us: he went into his neighbor's yard and threatened not only to beat up that neighbor, but to cut off the head of the neighbor's dog, too.
The jury was convinced, and he was convicted. He's been set for a sentencing date of May 28. We'll try to keep up with it and see what he gets.