CHICAGO, Illinois - January 20, 2011 - As a decorated Chicago police lieutenant, Jon Burge prided himself on sending bad guys to prison by getting them to confess to terrible crimes - and by committing terrible crimes himself in the process, prosecutors say.
Now, having been convicted in June of lying about the violent means he and his men used to get confessions, it is Burge's turn to face prison time.
Two men testifying Thursday as Burge's sentencing hearing opened accused Burge of torturing them into confessing to crimes decades ago. They said they still have nightmares about the abuse.
Melvin Jones and Anthony Holmes said they're haunted by memories of being suffocated and electrically shocked by Burge and his men, and then not believed for years.
Both men said their lives and families were changed forever by the abuse and their wrongful convictions.
Holmes said he's glad Burge was convicted. Unlike the innocent men who were tortured, Burge actually committed the crimes he was charged with, said Holmes.
Prosecutors say Burge's perjury and obstruction of justice convictions add up to 30-plus years in federal prison.
