CHICAGO, IL – A man who savagely beat a stranger on a Chicago train so badly the victim spent a week in a coma will serve no prison time after receiving credit for wearing an ankle monitor, outraging critics of the city’s criminal justice system.
Jesus Ramirez, 45, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery this week for the April 2024 attack on the CTA Pink Line that left his 37-year-old victim with a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, a fractured skull, and permanent ear damage.
The judge sentenced Ramirez to two years, but Illinois law cut that in half. Combined with more than a year of credit for time spent on electronic monitoring, Ramirez walked out of court without serving a single day behind bars.
“He nearly beat the victim to death on the CTA,” Judge Ankur Srivastava acknowledged from the bench.
Police reports show Ramirez approached the victim, a complete stranger, and “punched the victim in the face” before continuing to “punch and kick the victim in the face and body.” The attack was captured on surveillance video, which helped police identify and arrest Ramirez.
The victim suffered catastrophic injuries including a scattered brain bleed, temporal bone fracture, and broken nose. He remained in a coma for approximately one week and spent roughly two months hospitalized recovering from the beating.
The two men had exchanged words before the situation escalated, according to police, but had no prior relationship.
The case has renewed criticism of Chicago’s approach to violent crime, with victims’ advocates questioning how someone who caused such severe injuries could avoid incarceration entirely.
Talk about a wrist slap penalty. This is disgusting to any law-abiding citizen.
It is an insult to the victim and the public. Now the monster can go and almost kill someone else with the blessing of the judge.
you do not have the whole story. They also suspended his library card, wow, he cart read so he does not have such a card. well guess a tiny slap on the wrist is enough, he is black so that should do it. do not want to over react.