By Rummana Hussain and Cheryl V. Jackson
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — Victor Safforld said he confessed to two murders only because he was tortured by former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge’s underlings.
And as the 39-year-old walked out a free man late Tuesday evening, he maintained his innocence, even though he pleaded guilty to one of the 1990 gang-related murders last spring.
“Jon Burge is only the poster boy for corrupt cops,” said Safforld, also known as Cortez Brown. “He couldn’t have done all that without his rogue detectives.
''They should be punished just like they punished others — for them to go to prison and sit there.”
While Safforld was reveling in his newfound freedom, the man who allegedly ordered his beatings awaits his fate.
Burge, who was convicted on federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to the forced confessions at Area 2, is expected to be sentenced in November. He faces up to five years in prison.
In May, Safforld pleaded guilty to the gang-related murder of Curtis Sims but only so he could start a new life as a free man as soon as possible, according to Safforld’s lawyer Flint Taylor.
Cook County Judge Clayton Crane had granted Safforld new trials for the murders of Sims and Delvin Boelter, citing overwhelming evidence that Brown was tortured.
While Crane sentenced the former self-admitted Gangster Disciple to 40 years in prison for Sims’ murder, Safforld was eligible for early release on Tuesday because he already had served nearly two decades in prison for the fatal shooting.
As part of a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, murder charges were dropped against Safforld in the Boelter killing.
During last spring’s hearing, Assistant Illinois Attorney General Vincenzo Chimera presented evidence linking Safforld to Sims’ murder, pointing to a 9mm Taurus used in the murder that was purchased by Safforld’s mother just weeks before.
Safforld initially was sentenced to 35 years in prison for Boelter’s murder. He was later convicted and sentenced to death in 1992 for killing Sims, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison by former Gov. George Ryan.
“We must continue to support those guys who are still in prison,” Safforld said.
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