“A Stellar Citizen”
The web page of the Illinois Attorney Disciplinary & Registration Commission reports
[Attorney] Mr. Gold-Smith, who was licensed in 2003, was suspended on an interim basis and until further order of the Court. He was found guilty in the Circuit Court of Will County of solicitation of murder for hire and for solicitation, both Class X felonies. In addition, he is awaiting trial on state charges of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony) and unlawful violation of an order of protection (a Class A misdemeanor.
The Chicago Tribune reported
A Homer Glen man convicted of trying to hire someone to kill his ex-wife in 2012 maintained his innocence and described himself as a “stellar citizen” during a sentencing hearing Thursday.
Robert Gold-Smith, 54, faces 20-40 years in prison for the murder-for-hire scheme. Gold-Smith, a former attorney, is representing himself and made his arguments before Will County Judge Daniel Rozak. In March, he was found guilty of the murder-for-hire charges following a bench trial before Rozak.
“I did everything I’m supposed to do as a good citizen of this county,” Gold-Smith said.
Gold-Smith landed in jail in 2010 after he punched his then-wife several times following a divorce proceeding in the Will County courthouse. It was during the time he was in the Will County jail in 2012 that Gold-Smith attempted to hire an inmate to kill his wife, prosecutors have said.
A Homer Glen lawyer convicted of trying to buy his wife’s murder from inside the Will County jail had harsh words Thursday for the judge who will sentence him.
Robert W. Gold-Smith, 54, repeated his assertions that a jail inmate fabricated a recording of Gold-Smith asking to have Victoria Smith killed and that Judge Daniel Rozak was biased against him. Gold-Smith, who represented himself in a bench trial earlier this year, faces 20 to 40 years in prison.
Gold-Smith and Victoria Smith were going through a contentious divorce when he allegedly punched her outside a courtroom in November 2010. That case still is pending, although Gold-Smith has admitted to the confrontation. Before court began Thursday, Gold-Smith spoke to Will County Assistant Public Defender Amy Christiansen, who is representing him on the domestic battery case.
“Twenty [years], 30, 40. It’s all the same to me,” Gold-Smith said. “It’s a life sentence. I get out of prison at 75, what good does that do me?”
During sentencing proceedings, Gold-Smith and prosecutor Adam Capelli noted he had no criminal history before the attack in the courthouse.
The same source noted his “Clark Gable” approach to courtroom behavior.
On Friday, Gold-Smith was seated in the jury box with other inmates when bailiff Cheryl Ferguson reminded him that talking before his case was called was a violation of the courtroom rules and he could be kicked out before his case was called.
“Throw me out, I don’t give a damn,” Gold-Smith told the bailiff.
(Mike Frisch)