by Judd Mustin, The Chicago Times
December 1, 2021
CHICAGO – Adam “Dread Head Cowboy” Hollingsworth, 34, was sentenced to 90 days in jail on a contempt charge for arguing with a Cook County judge on Tuesday.
The contempt charge was filed just a day after Hollingsworth, who is representing himself in his animal cruelty case, complained about Judge Michael McHale and claimed that prosecutors were withholding evidence.
Hollingsworth was led from the courtroom to the holding cell in McHale’s chambers by sheriff’s deputies, leaving his black Stetson on a table. McHale recalled the case and handed Hollingsworth the 90-day sentence after an hour in chambers.
“You have made a mockery of these proceedings,” McHale said, citing a number of incidents in which Hollingsworth had made unsubstantiated claims or disrupted court proceedings since he was arrested in 2020 for riding horseback on the Dan Ryan Expressway to raise awareness about violence against kids.
Judge McHale ordered Hollingsworth to return to court with a flash drive that prosecutors had given him at the end of a status hearing on Monday.
Like a scene unfolding from the film My Cousin Vinny, Hollingsworth, on Tuesday, claimed a dog ate the flash drive and interrupted the judge several times.
“Where has the flash drive gone?” McHale inquired.
“My dog chewed it up,” Hollingsworth explained, prompting the judge to order the activist to raise his right hand and swear that he was telling the truth.
McHale became enraged when Hollingsworth later claimed that prosecutors had been withholding evidence from him.
Assistant State’s Attorney Christina Dracopoulos stated that prosecutors had turned over all files in the case to Hollingsworth “several” times and had sent him an online link to the same files on Monday. Hollingsworth later admitted that he had not downloaded the files.
“I would like to know what right you have, what basis you have, to make that claim against the prosecutors? You claim to have received the files yesterday. Would you like to continue accusing them of concealing evidence, or would you like to withdraw it?” McHale said.
The judge began speaking again after Hollingsworth had been silent for several seconds when Hollingsworth interrupted by saying “May I speak?”
An enraged McHale shouted our “That is it! You’re in contempt! Take him back.”
Hollingsworth is expected back in court January 21.
The Chicago Times 