'Puncher' sentenced to 7 years in prison just one month after arrest

Local Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison After Just One Month of Incarceration, Despite Family's Plea for Help

A Chicago man known on social media as the "puncher" due to his history of violent attacks on women has been sentenced to seven years in prison just a month after his arrest. The case took an unexpected turn when Derek Rucker pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and burglary related to the assaults, bringing an end to what was considered a whirlwind trial.

Rucker, 37, faces charges stemming from three separate incidents: punching a 62-year-old woman in the head at a local residence and hitting a female CTA employee on the back of her head while working on the Red Line platform. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary for entering CTA trains and spitting in passengers' faces.

Rucker's case highlights the complexities of addressing mental health issues behind bars. His mother, Tracey Davis, described him as suffering from schizophrenia, which she said requires "dire help." She expressed hope that he would receive treatment in prison, citing the availability of mental health services within correctional facilities.

However, Rucker will not be spending much time in a state facility; he was sentenced to seven years minus one month and several days spent in Cook County Jail. This swift resolution has sparked concerns about accountability and support for those struggling with mental illness.

A similar case involving another "puncher," William Livingston, continues to unfold as police report new charges related to an unprovoked attack on two women in Lincoln Park last June.
 
IT'S JUST SO FRUSTRATING TO SEE PEOPLE LIKE DEREK RUCKER GET SSENTENCED SO QUICKLY WHEN YOU KNOW THEY NEED HELP!!! πŸ€―πŸ’” I mean, his mom is clearly worried about him and wants him to get the treatment he needs, but instead of focusing on getting him help, the system just threw him in jail for a minute and then said "good job" when he pleaded guilty! 🚫 It's like they're not even trying to address the real issues here. And what really gets me is that this is basically a case of "tough love" with no actual support or resources provided to help people struggling with mental illness behind bars. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT, MAN!!! 😀
 
this is wild ... a guy gets sentenced to 7 years for just one month of incarceration and people are already talking about accountability? what's the rush here? it feels like they're prioritizing punishment over actual help. his mom was literally begging for him to get treatment in prison, but did anyone listen? now he's getting out early and I'm left wondering if anything has really changed. mental health is a real issue behind bars, we need more support not just lip service πŸ€”
 
this is wild that he was sentenced to 7 yrs already tho like only a month in? doesn't sound right to me πŸ€” and what's with the mental health thing? it sounds like his mom is trying to make excuses for him but like isn't there help available out there? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ and another guy like this just happening in chicago... it's crazy how fast these cases go from "he punched a lady" to "he pleaded guilty to 7 yrs". anyway, hope the other dude gets some real help this time πŸ’•
 
I'm shocked by this whole situation 🀯. 7 years is a long time, and I think it's gonna be tough for Derek Rucker to get his life back together behind bars. His mom saying he needs "dire help" with schizophrenia is really sad, 'cause you can't just lock someone up without giving them some sort of treatment or support system πŸ€•.

It's not like he was sentenced to prison and then suddenly decided to change his ways or anything... the guy pleaded guilty already πŸ˜”. I'm worried about how this might set a bad precedent for people struggling with mental health issues, 'cause it's just not fair to them.
 
I gotta say, 7 years is a pretty light sentence considering how violent the dude was and how much harm he caused πŸ€•. I mean, his mom said he's got schizophrenia and needs help, which is totally fair. But at the same time, you'd think that with all the progress we've made on mental health awareness, we should be doing more to support people like him instead of just locking them up for years. It's a shame because I feel like that first month in prison might have been enough time to get him the help he needs, but now it's gonna take 7 whole years πŸ•°οΈ.
 
I'm literally shaking my head over this whole thing 🀯. I mean, 7 years for one month? That's just not right. My grandma has been dealing with her depression and anxiety for years, but she's never been arrested or violent like that. It's so frustrating to see people get a slap on the wrist when they've hurt others in such a violent way 😩.

And what really gets me is that he was pleading guilty to most of it πŸ€”. I'm not saying that his mom's mental health issues don't matter, but come on... 7 years isn't even close to what someone with schizophrenia should be getting πŸ’”. And now his mother is gonna have to deal with the guilt of knowing her son is still out here and hasn't gotten the help he needs πŸ€•.

It just feels so unfair, you know? Like, where's the accountability for these violent crimes? I mean, Derek Rucker has already hurt three people, what more does society need to see before he gets locked up for good? πŸš”
 
πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ I mean, what a shocker that the guy went from doing time to not doing most of it πŸ˜’. Seven years is still seven years, but at least his mom gets to sleep better knowing he's in a facility with actual help πŸ™. Mental health services in prison? Sounds about right... who needs those when you can just get a pat on the back and a participation trophy πŸŽ‰. It's all good, though - I'm sure Rucker will be just fine, totally rehabilitated after only one month of incarceration πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. Can't wait to see how that works out for him πŸ™„. And great timing with another "puncher" case - because who doesn't love a good serial puncher story? πŸ’₯
 
πŸ€” I'm like totally confused by this dude's sentence tho? 7 years in prison after just one month of being incarcerated? It seems kinda harsh, especially with his mom saying he needs mental health help. Like, isn't that what prisons are supposed to be for? Also, why didn't they offer him more treatment options or something? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ
 
man... this guy got 7 yrs already after just a month in jail? that's like, what even is justice anymore? 🀯 it's all about how much he can swing at people before they lock him up, not about actually fixing the issue. his mum said he had schizophrenia and needed help, but did anyone care enough to get that help for him before now? πŸ€” it's all so messed up. and what's with the sentence being shorter than the time already served in jail? does that even count as time served or something? anyway... hope Derek Rucker gets some actual treatment while he's behind bars, not just a slap on the wrist πŸ’”
 
this is just great - another guy gets caught and he's already getting sentenced like crazy 🀯 7 years in the can for just one month of being locked up? what a joke! and his mom is over here saying she thinks he needs help with his schizophrenia, but meanwhile he's spitting on people's faces and punching women... talk about a lack of accountability πŸ™„. and now there's another guy out there who might have similar issues and we're just gonna let him run wild? what's the deal? πŸ˜’
 
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