Four-time felon gets 8 years for drunken car crash that killed Marisol Mercado in 2013 in West Garfield Park

Jeff Mayes — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 13:52:22 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Jaime "James" Brown | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A West Side man who shot someone before starting a police chase that left 35-year-old Marisol Mercado dead three years ago in West Garfield Park has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Jaime "James" D. Brown, 36, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated DUI in an accident causing death before Judge William Lacy, according to Cook County court records. The other charges against him, including felony murder and aggravated battery, were dropped.

Prosecutors said Brown, 34 at the time, was drunk when he shot a man about 11:30 p.m. July 13, 2013, in the 100 block of South Springfield. Brown was arguing with the man, then left, but returned a short time later with a gun. He fired several times in the direction of the victim, hitting him twice in the leg, prosecutors said.

Chicago Police officers nearby heard shots fired, and after a witness pointed out the car, saw Brown driving away at a high rate of speed.

Marisol Mercado | Facebook

The two officers pursued Brown, and saw him run several red lights and drop a gun out his driver’s side window, according to prosecutors. He allegedly ran another red light at Pulaski and Chicago, striking a CTA bus, an SUV and Mercado’s Saturn. The driver of the SUV suffered a broken collarbone, and Mercado suffered multiple injuries. Police also recovered a .380 caliber, semi-automatic handgun from the route of the pursuit, prosecutors said.

Mercado, a Northwest Side resident, died the next day at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities said.

Brown was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his blood showed a Blood Alcohol Content level of .190, more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said. He was also driving on a suspended driver’s license at the time of the crash.

Judge Lacy sentenced Brown to eight years in prison Thursday, according to court records. He will receive credit for 1,096 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will have to serve two years of supervised release.

Brown, a Chicago resident, had four prior felony convictions dating back to 1998; twice for possession of a controlled substance, once for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and burglary, and once for possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.

Man held on $500,000 bond in death of Northwest Side woman

John Carpenter — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:55:41 -0500

A Chicago man with four prior felony convictions and a suspended driver’s license was ordered held on $500,000 bond Monday, charged in the death of a Northwest Side woman killed when the man’s car slammed into hers.

Prosecutors said James Brown, 34, was drunk when he shot a man who he had been arguing with late Saturday night, July 13, in the 100 block of S. Springfield. Police nearby heard the shots fired, and saw Brown leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. As they were pursuing him, Brown allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Pulaski Road and Chicago Avenue, hitting Marisol Mercado's car. She died from injuries suffered in the accident.

Prosecutors said Brown was arguing with the first victim when he left and returned a short time later with a gun. He shot several times in the direction of the victim, hitting him twice in the leg, Cook County State’s Attorney spokesperson Tandra Simonton said.

The two Chicago police officers who pursued Brown saw him run several red lights, and saw him drop a gun out his driver’s side window, she said. He allegedly ran another red light at Pulaski and Chicago, striking a sports utility vehicle, as well as Mercado’s Saturn. The driver of the sports utility vehicle suffered a broken collarbone, and Mercado suffered multiple injuries. Police also recovered a .380 caliber, semi-automatic handgun from the route of the pursuit, Simonton said.

Brown has felony convictions dating back to 1998; twice for possession of a controlled substance, once for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and burglary, and once for possession of a firearm, Simonton said. He was taken to John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County after the accident, and his blood showed a Blood Alcohol Content level of .190, more than twice the legal limit, she said.

He is charged with felony murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily harm. Judge Laura S. Sullivan ordered him held on $500,000 bond.

James Brown | Homicide Watch Chicago

Four-time felon gets 8 years for drunken car crash that killed Marisol Mercado in 2013 in West Garfield Park

Man held on $500,000 bond in death of Northwest Side woman