The public defenders representing 14-year-old Zaveon Marks are asking the state for $25,000 to provide special mitigation expertise during the sentencing phase of his trial.
Marks was found guilty on two of three charges — one count of first-degree murder and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm — earlier this month.
He's the youngest person charged and convicted of murder in Peoria County history, according to the defense.
Due to his age, Marks’ attorneys want to bring in the Sentencing Advocacy Group of Evanston (SAGE) to help mitigate afair sentence. They also want to conduct additional psychological evaluations to determine whether Marks has an intellectual disability.
Marks faces a sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison for the murder of 16-year-old Zarious Fair, plus a 25 year to life tack on for use of a firearm.
Earlier this year, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled a sentence exceeding 40 years constitutes a de facto life imprisonment for a juvenile — but the court could still exceed that cap if it finds the crime “showed irretrievable depravity, permanent incorrigibility or irreparable corruption beyond the possibility of rehabilitation.”
The $25,000 request would pay for SAGE mitigation experts to establish a life chronology for Marks, conduct interviews and gather documentation to support testimony — ultimately using the information to help illustrate what led to Marks’ actions, as well as his capacity for rehabilitation.
The state’s attorney’s office will now consider the request. Marks returns to court Nov. 26.
The teen pled not guilty to the murder charges. Attorney William Loeffel said the defense plans to appeal his verdict.
