

“It’s not by magic that we haven’t had any horrible incidents occur using this new [bail] system.” — Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Nov. 4, 2019

Enrique Soto | Cook County Sheriff

Prosecutors last week charged an Avondale man with shooting a robbery victim while free on a $200 “affordable bail” for illegal firearms possession.

It’s the latest in a string of violent crimes that CWBChicago has found were allegedly committed by people who were free on affordable bail while awaiting trial for gun crimes and other serious felonies.

A fugitive apprehension team arrested 18-year-old Enrique Soto as he stepped out of his Avondale home shortly before noon on Feb. 10.

Prosecutors allege that Soto shot an 18-year-old man in the back while trying to rob the victim and another man on the 3800 block of West George at 6:48 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Soto last week was charged with one Class X felony count of attempted murder and felony attempted robbery while armed with a firearm. He is being held without bail.

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At the time of the shooting and robbery, Soto was free while awaiting trial for allegedly possessing a stolen handgun and resisting police on the 2900 block of North Harding in August 2019.

Judge Charles Beach allowed Soto to get out of jail by posting a deposit bond of $200 in that case, according to court records.