A former Chicago police officer has been sentenced to one year in federal prison for sexually assaulting a transgender woman in his squad car while he was on duty. The incident, which occurred on March 19, 2019, has brought up concerns about police misconduct in the Windy City and placed the department under heightened scrutiny.
James Sajdak was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to the crime last year as part of a plea deal.
James Sajdak, 65, pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor count of violating the victim’s civil rights during the encounter on the West Side on March 5, 2019. He had originally faced up to life behind bars after being indicted on several felony counts, but under his plea agreement with prosecutors, the sentence was capped at 12 months.
In handing down the maximum term, U.S. District Judge John Tharp said Sajdak not only harmed the victim he…
