Convicted Felon Sentenced To 32 Years In Prison For Murder Of Cellmate In Cook County Jail

Convicted Felon Sentenced To 32 Years In Prison For Murder Of Cellmate In Cook County Jail

A convicted felon charged with the beating death of his cellmate at the Cook County Jail has been sentenced to 32 years in prison, according to the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

David Jamison, 60, was convicted in October of 2012 of two counts of First Degree Murder in the death of fellow jail inmate John Lambert, 25.  Jamison was awaiting trial on a pending case at the time of the incident.  He eventually pled guilty to Residential Burglary and received a sentence of 25 years imprisonment.

According to prosecutors, on June 25, 2007, Jamison became upset because the victim had allowed another inmate to read one of Jamison’s books.  An argument ensued but witnesses testified that it did not turn physical.  Later that night, once all the inmates returned to their cells for lockdown, Jamison attacked the victim, causing major head trauma.  The incident went unnoticed until the following morning, when a correctional officer handing out breakfast trays discovered the victim vomiting and seizing.

The victim was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital and later transferred to Stroger Hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe epidural hematoma.  He succumbed to his injuries on July 8th, 2007.

Judge Timothy Joyce sentenced Jamison to the 32-year prison term late Thursday during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Mercedes Luque-Rosales, Edward Maloney, and Melissa Meana as well as the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case.

Published on Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office