Delayed justice for Anthony Rice

What are the chances that a kid born to strip club owners would be less than a model citizen? The trifecta of organized crime — drugs, sex and gambling — that constantly attach themselves to the local sex clubs couldn’t possibly shape a tender youth into a violent sociopath, could they?

Well, we’d sure like the St. Clair County Circuit Court to weigh in on that, at least in the case of Reginald O. Allen, 32, of Dupo. It has been nearly six years since Anthony Rice, 23, of Bethalto, was run down by a pickup truck on the parking lot of an East St. Louis strip club, and nearly four years since Allen was charged with the crime.

Allen’s record includes 30 felonies and 22 misdemeanor charges but few convictions. Since the reckless homicide charge was filed, Allen was charged in January with mob action for dragging a stripper into a bathroom, beating her and letting others take a whack at her.

We don’t see any good reason why it should take almost two years to bring charges and another four to either convict or clear Allen. Judges keep allowing defense delays, which help the accused as memories fade and will weakens.

We’re also baffled as to why St. Clair County Circuit Judge Jan Fiss would reduce Allen’s bail on mob action when Allen was already out on bond for reckless homicide. Fiss dropped the $250,000 mob action bail to $100,000, meaning Allen came up with $10,000 to again buy his freedom to...?

Strip club insurance paid $250,000 to each of Rice’s two sons, meager amends for the loss of a father. Rice’s uncle, a St. Louis lawyer, has little faith in the county criminal justice system’s ability to dispense even a modicum of justice to those boys.

We share his skepticism.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 9:46 AM with the headline "Delayed justice for Anthony Rice."