Cop Anthony Abbate Gets Probation, No Jail, For Beating Female Bartender (WATCH SURVEILLANCE VIDEO)

CHICAGO — An off-duty Chicago police officer convicted of pummeling a female bartender half his size was sentenced Tuesday to two years probation and anger management classes for the videotaped attack that appeared worldwide on the Internet and cable news channels.

Cook County Circuit Judge John Fleming also gave Anthony Abbate, 40, a home curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and ordered him to perform 130 hours of community service.

"No one in recent memory ... has done more to tarnish the reputation of the Chicago Police Department than Anthony Abbate," Cook County Assistant State's Attorney LuAnn Snow said Tuesday.

Prosecutors had asked for prison for Abbate -- he could have been sentenced to up to five years behind bars -- but the judge said he didn't see aggravating factors to justify a prison term. The judge said Abbate had a clean record before the incident, did not seriously injure the bartender, and underwent alcohol rehab "and has not had a relapse."

"If I believed sentencing Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting people, I'd give him the maximum sentence," Fleming said.

Earlier this month, the judge rejected Abbate's claim he acted in self-defense and convicted him of aggravated battery. A tavern security video shows a drunken, 250-pound Abbate punching and kicking the 125-pound Karolina Obrycka as she tended bar in February 2007. The altercation happened after she refused to serve him more drinks.

The video captured a lot of attention as another example of misconduct by Chicago police. Then-Superintendent Phil Cline suddenly announced his retirement shortly after the video surfaced and former FBI official Jody Weis was appointed to the spot with an order to clean up the department's image.

Abbate acknowledged during the trial that he was drunk during the incident. But he said Obrycka pushed him first as she tried to remove him from behind the bar. Obrycka said during the hearing that she continues to suffer psychological wounds, often has nightmares and has trouble trusting people, including her husband.

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Prosecutors and Obrycka said they were disappointed with the sentence. Her attorney, Terry Ekl, said he expected the lawsuit Obrycka filed against Abbate and city to go to trial this year.

Abbate declined comment as he walked out of the courtroom holding his girlfriend's hand.

"He's not a bad man, he did something bad," said his defense attorney, Peter Hickey. He characterized the incident at "one silly, stupid act."

Abbate has been relieved of his duties and pay, Chicago Police Department spokesman Officer Robert Perez said.

The department is looking into "separation proceedings," Perez said. Weis has said he wants Abbate fired.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Watch the security camera footage of the beating:

Comments

[mamala4]

As a transplant to the state of Illinois, I can honestly say that I have never seen such corruption as in this state....I am ashamed to say I live here....there is no justice in the court room.

[SadieGirl]

Obviously. You need to move to a State with a conscience.

[ChiGuy]

You need to stop making unfounded and completely uninformed generalizations about the people of Illinois.

[solid]

What, like Alabama?

[ChiGuy]

If you think that several high-visibility cases means that this kind of krap doesn't happen in MOST states in the U.S., you're a f00l.

And, if you're not committed to helping affect change in the state which you currently live, then quit
wh ining and relocate your sorry arse elsewhere.

Those of us actually working to better our situation here in Illinois won't miss you one...single...bit.

[solid]

Nicely said ChiGuy. As a fellow resident of Illinois, this is a great state with some obvious bad apples, as all states have. The knee-jerks are out in force tonight.

[DofG]

"If I believed sentencing Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting people, I'd give him the maximum sentence." - Judge Fleming

What a duplicitous self serving statement.

Former Chicago mayor, Harold Washington was right. "The 'machine' is dead, but the spirit of the machine lives on". And this spirit is alive and well in Chicago.

[themeeg]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... someone is picked for having an eighth of an ounce of pot and gets to go to jail for two years.

Disgrace!

[Ministerbruce]

Richard Pryor said it best; "I went down to court House, looking for JUSTICE and found "Just us."

[Dabo415]

Chicagoans should be out on the streets over this. Nothing will change unless there's a political price to pay.

And that judge should have given him the max sentence just for attempting that self defense nonsense.

[liberalbug]

The judge most surely knew that if he wanted "protection" from the police under any circumstances that he had to go light on this guy. There are different kinds of justice in this country and this case demonstrates that.

[MikeHermit]

A probation for felonious assualt. Wonderful. Had the cop not been a cop and not been white he would not mearly be doin community service with a curfuw, he would be in prison.

I love our un-justice system.

[berzelius]

Whatever....Chris Brown, the not white musician, just just received probation for felonious assault. And community service. He beat Rihanna to a pulp. Remember the picture.

Both got off easy.

[MidwestProgressive]

There is a different standard for the rich/celebrity and cops. At least with Chris Brown it was his first offense. I am sure a number of complaints have been filed for this cop with no consequences. That's the Chicago way.

[Surreal2me]

Michael Vick got more time for cruelty to animals..

[Mikey5099]

As another longtime Chicagoan, I am disgusted, but not shocked...

Most likely, Judge Flemming was on the take or owed somebody a favor. The last of the untouchables in Chicago politics died with Eliot Ness...

[jabreal00]

The goon's conduct is just outrageous. Many who are police officers have anger management issues and insecurities. Being a police officer is a great job to belittle and humiliate those who are most vulnerable, ie minorities and poor.

[PlanetClaireDeluxe]

my brother-in-law is a cop. they don't come with any more anger management issues and insecurities than him. well, except his wife. i've never met any of his fellow officers that are any different. they are whiny, se.x. ist, ra.c. ist thugs.

[SadieGirl]

And women who can't defend themselves against brutal attack by a viscious cop. Who then gets handled with kid gloves. I would never live in a State such as Illionois. Crooked for decades. Everybody owns a piece of everyone else. SHAME

[solid]

Oh brother. Please tell us what state you live in so we can identify the hundreds of thousands of crooked people who live within a 100 mile radius of you.

[AAKAlan]

If you're a copy, what do you have to do to get a jail sentence?
Do serial killings on reality TV???

[wadenelson1]

Someone twice HIS size needs to deliver the much needed "justice" in this case.

[MidwestProgressive]

Unfortunately, the person that delivered "justice" to this cop would go directly to jail or worse.

[signwrite]

"He's not a bad man, he did something bad," said his defense attorney, Peter Hickey. He characterized the incident at "one silly, stupid act."

So Peter, what would you be saying if this was your wife or sister?

[sloreader]

OK and so now some poor schmoe who gets liquored up and beats up his neighbor for no reason can argue for no jail time because "it was the booze talkin"? Sounds like the twinkie defense on ethanol to me.

[MisterMister]

This is just unbelievable to me and shows just how corrupt the Illinois justice system is.

[Haditup2here]

When are people going to start shedding light on police brutality and ra.ci.al profiling? I don't believe that a seasoned cop wakes up one day and decides to beat on a person or all of the sudden "loses" it. This cop has probably done other "mess" in the past and has probably had a slap on the wrist with no citations on his record. . . . or maybe he has been doing these same actions on "minorities" for some time, got bold (selecting a "non-minority) , and happened to get caught with a camera this time. .

[Kalie]

The Chicago Police Dept should fire Abbate. Would you continue to let a child abuser work in a daycare center? The man chose the wrong field. My guess is he had more relatives and connections than choices.

[SadieGirl]

Maybe some fine resident of Chicago will decide how to extract justice on Abbate. I plead temporary Republican insanity and encourage inciting violence. Oh no!