Hearing For Serial Stowaway Marilyn Hartman Delayed After Judge Tests Positive For COVID-19
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's infamous serial stowaway, Marilyn Hartman, was due back in court on Friday, but her latest hearing was delayed until December, after the judge tested positive for COVID-19.
On Friday, Hartman was scheduled to appear before a judge via Zoom. She is facing charges stemming from her latest arrest last fall for trespassing at O'Hare International Airport.
Hartman was released from Cook County Jail and put on home monitoring in late March after being attacked at the jail, and also after the pandemic became a concern for inmates.
On Friday, the virus pushed back her latest court appearance, after the judge assigned to the case tested positive for COVID-19. Hartman's next hearing now is scheduled for Dec. 4.
According to a memo from the chief judge's office, anyone known to have had close contact with the judge will be informed of possible exposure to the virus. Areas where he worked will be deep-cleaned and disinfected.
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Hartman was arrested for the eighth time this past fall for violating her probation, when she tried to pass through security without a boarding pass or identification on Oct. 11, 2019. She was on probation for a prior trespassing incident and, had been prohibited from going to O'Hare or Midway international airports without a boarding pass.
While in custody on the latest charges, she was attacked at Cook County Jail in March. Sources said the inmate who attacked her had some kind of episode – possibly a mental health issue.
The inmate repeatedly struck Hartman and another inmate's head against a number of hard surfaces.
The Cook County Sheriff's office Hartman and the other detainee were evaluated by Cermak Hospital medical staff and no injuries were found.
Among other incidents, Hartman was sentenced to 18 months of probation in March 2019 after pleading guilty to sneaking past Chicago airport security, boarding a plane and flying to London without a ticket.
Hartman told a Cook County judge at the time she was sentenced that she apologizes to the airport and for "causing problems for them." As part of her plea deal, she can't go to Chicago's O'Hare or Midway airports without a ticket. She entered the plea to a criminal trespassing charge.
She had also been arrested for trying to board planes without tickets several other times.
The Cook County Sheriff's office said since 2015, it has advocated for Hartman to receive treatment and stable housing in the community, and should not be in jail.
