Ex-Chicago Cop Invokes 5th Amendment in Wrongful Conviction Trial

Disgraced former detective Reynaldo Guevara refuses to answer questions about alleged misconduct in 1989 murder case

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Disgraced former Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara invoked his 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 80 times during testimony in an ongoing federal wrongful conviction trial. Guevara is accused of beating witnesses and coercing a confession in a 1989 gang-related murder case. His refusal to answer questions could factor heavily into how much the city pays out in the more than two dozen lawsuits still pending against him.

Why it matters

Guevara's testimony highlights the ongoing fallout from his alleged misconduct as a Chicago police detective, which has already cost the city nearly $100 million in jury verdicts and settlements. The current trial involves allegations that Guevara framed an admitted gang member for a 1989 murder, raising broader questions about police corruption and wrongful convictions in the city.

The details

In the current trial, Guevara is accused of inserting himself into a 1989 murder investigation and orchestrating a frame-up by coercing witnesses to identify the plaintiff, Jaime Rios, as the shooter. Rios spent 17 years in prison before being exonerated in 2022. Guevara's attorney argued that Rios' claims are fabricated and blamed the state's attorney's office for Rios' eventual exoneration.

  • In 1989, Guevara was a gang crimes specialist investigating the murder of Luis Morales.
  • Rios was convicted of the murder in 1990 and spent 17 years in prison before being paroled in 2007.
  • Rios filed a petition for a new trial in 2022, which was granted without investigation after a brief hearing.

The players

Reynaldo Guevara

A disgraced former Chicago police detective who has been accused of misconduct in dozens of cases, including coercing confessions and framing suspects. He is now 82 years old and collecting a $91,000 annual pension from the city.

Jaime Rios

An admitted former Latin Kings gang member who was convicted in 1990 for the 1989 murder of Luis Morales. Rios spent 17 years in prison before being exonerated in 2022.

Kim Foxx

The Cook County State's Attorney who ordered prosecutors to stop fighting Rios' effort to overturn his conviction, leading to Rios' exoneration in 2022.

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What they’re saying

“You will see Reynaldo Guevara was not an honest cop. He was not just seeking to do good things...he was perceived as a thug, a corrupt officer. Not an officer who was out to seek the truth.”

— Stephen Richards, Plaintiff's attorney

“The 5th Amendment protects innocent people. It protects people from government overreach (and) overzealous prosecutors. Are there reasons why an 82-year-old retired man might be fearful he might be subjected to an unjust prosecution? I would submit to you there are a lot of reasons, and none of them have to do with him being guilty of anything.”

— Timothy Scahill, Guevara's attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Guevara to be released on bail while the trial continues.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing fallout from Guevara's alleged misconduct as a Chicago police detective, which has already cost the city tens of millions in settlements and jury awards. It raises broader questions about police corruption, wrongful convictions, and the need for greater accountability in the criminal justice system.