Keshia Golden pleads guilty to reduced charge in boyfriend's 2022 stabbing death

CHICAGO - Keshia Golden pleaded guilty Monday to a reduced charge in the 2022 stabbing death of her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney.

What we know:

Golden had previously been charged with first-degree murder in Sidney's death. She was eight months pregnant when Sidney was stabbed following the couple's baby shower in October 2022.

Golden's attorneys had maintained that she was a survivor of domestic violence and acted in self-defense to protect herself and their unborn child.

Her case had been set for a bench trial Monday. She instead pleaded guilty to an amended count of Class 3 involuntary manslaughter and received two years of probation.

Advocates for domestic violence survivors had been pushing Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke to dismiss the murder charge.

What they're saying:

Golden's attorneys issued a statement following the plea, criticizing prosecutors for pursuing the first-degree murder charge for nearly four years.

"The offer from the State’s Attorney’s office clearly shows that prosecutors never believed they could convince a judge or jury that our client, Keshia Golden, was guilty of first-degree murder.

"It is a disgrace that it took almost four years for the prosecution to admit this. Continuing to prosecute Keshia for first-degree murder has caused her and her family unbelievable stress as she was threatened with decades in prison.

"Keshia has made the difficult decision to accept the prosecution’s offer to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and a sentence of probation in this case to ensure that she will be able to raise her daughter and see her grow up. This is a rational decision, but it is not a just outcome.

"Our clients face these difficult and personal decisions every day when choosing between their freedom and pleading to something they are innocent of, but which risks much harsher penalties after trial.

"We hope the State's Attorney will keep Keshia’s case in mind moving forward, particularly in the case of criminalized survivors. The State's Attorney's Office has an obligation to pursue justice even when it means not achieving a conviction."

The backstory:

Prosecutors previously said Golden and Sidney were arguing in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2022, when Sidney grabbed Golden and pushed her onto a counter.

According to court documents, family members separated the two before Sidney went into a bedroom to lie down. Prosecutors said Golden followed him with a knife and stabbed him in the leg, striking his femoral artery.

Sidney died at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Golden's attorneys offered a different account, saying Sidney repeatedly slammed Golden's head against the countertop before she grabbed the knife and stabbed him in self-defense.

Advocates said Golden had previously been abused by Sidney. According to police, more than 50 domestic violence calls had been made from the couple's home. Golden also obtained an order of protection against Sidney in July 2022 after alleging he punched her in the face.

Golden was initially held on a $2 million bond before a judge reduced it to $50,000. Community groups helped post the required $5,000, allowing her to leave jail before giving birth.

Dig deeper:

Golden's attorneys previously asked prosecutors to dismiss the case, but the Cook County State's Attorney's Office declined.

Prosecutors had instead offered Golden a plea deal to second-degree murder that would have resulted in 24 months of probation and a felony conviction.

Before Monday's plea, the state's attorney's office released a statement last week, saying in part:

"The Cook County State's Attorney's Office is committed to combatting domestic violence in all of its forms. In this case, and in every case that we handle, we carefully evaluate the facts and the law to make appropriate charging decisions and to seek justice on behalf of victims. These determinations are based on a thorough review of the evidence that is gathered by law enforcement and presented to us at the conclusion of their investigation."