Chuck Dai, the accused owner of an abandoned South Side commercial laundry building, made his first court appearance exactly one year after being charged for criminal contempt in the death of two Chicago firefighters, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. His bail was set at $50,000.
The firefighters, Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer, were killed in December 2010 after responding to a fire in Dai's building. Dai is accused of failing to secure the building and repair the roof despite a court order, which led to the roof's collapse and the firefighters' deaths.
Dai allegedly failed to correct 14 building code violations, some dating as early as 2007. Witnesses also say that the building was in bad condition and remained unsecured prior to the fire, according to the Sun-Times.
However, Dai’s criminal defense attorney countered that there were no follow-up reports by the city or city agencies regarding Dai’s failure to follow the court’s order and any evidence was destroyed when the city wiped out debris after the fire.
Criminal contempt of court refers to behavior which disobeys, offenders, or disrespects the authority or dignity of a court. Criminal contempt charges can become separate charges from the underlying case. Those charged with criminal contempt generally get the same constitutional rights guaranteed to criminal defendants, such as the right to counsel and the right to a jury trial in certain cases.
If you have been charged with criminal contempt, you should consider speaking with an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney or a public defender if you cannot afford a private attorney. Both can explain the charge, as well as potential defenses. For more information on criminal contempt, see our Related Resources section.
Related Resources:
- Find a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Criminal Contempt of Court (FindLaw)
- Nightclub Owners Get Two Years for Deadly Stampede (The Chicago Criminal Law Blog)
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