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I'm over at the Dirksen for the 2 p.m. sentencing of former YouTube star Austin Jones. He pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography last February and prosecutors are asking Judge John Z. Lee to sentence him to 11 years. chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/…
Judge Lee has called a recess. For the last 90 min or so, several of Jones' victims & members of their families have given some sobering statements. Several have hurt themselves or attempted suicide. Some forgive him, others haven't. Jones has broken down crying at least 4 times.
Jones also gave a lengthy statement of his own. Part of it here: 
Before Jones gave his statement, he asked Judge Lee if he could turn around to look at some of his victims who are in court when he apologized to them. Asst. U.S. Atty. Katherine Welsh conferred with them and told Lee that they wanted Jones to only look at the judge as he spoke.
Recess is over. Lee's sentence coming shortly.
BREAKING: Austin Jones sentenced to 10 years in prison with 8 years of supervised release.
Prosecutor and Jones' defense atty now in a sidebar with the judge and probation officer discussing whether or not to take Jones into custody now or let him surrender at a later date. Pros says he's a danger to others and himself — he's previously expressed suicidal ideations.
Jones' atty has said that, in the 2 years Jones has been in therapy, those ideations have stopped entirely.
After a 10 min sidebar, Lee says there will another hearing Monday to determine when Jones will be taken into custody.
Full story: YouTube star Austin Jones gets 10 years in prison on child porn charge bit.ly/2IXZ9Pm via @suntimes
