Court Won't hear appeal from LUPE FIASCO mentor

((Photo IDOC))

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from a Chicago-area music producer who was convicted on drug charges despite complaints that his jurors weren't asked whether they had any biases against firearms.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Charles Patton, the Olympia Fields man who worked with Chicago-area rap star Lupe Fiasco.

Patton was convicted on drug charges in March 2007 and sentenced two months later to 44 years in prison, Cook County court records show. He is presently incarcerated at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling, according to records from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Patton appealed his conviction, saying that jurors weren't questioned by his trial judge on whether they had any bias against firearms. Patton had a loaded firearm when he was arrested.

The Illinois Appellate Court threw out the appeal, saying the judge did not have to ask about potential firearm bias on his own.

The case is Patton v. Illinois, 09-957.

-- Associated Press