Former Frankfort attorney gets 30 years for soliciting murder of ex-wife

October 20
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced on Wednesday that a former Frankfort attorney found guilty of soliciting the murder of his ex-wife has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak in March found Robert Gold-Smith, 54, guilty of Solicitation of Murder for Hire, an enhanced Class X Felony that carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison.

Gold-Smith approached a fellow detainee at the Will County Adult Detention Facility and offered to pay him to kill his ex-wife. Gold-Smith made the offer while he was in jail on Aggravated Domestic Battery charges involving his ex-wife.

A wire conversation between Gold-Smith and Brian McDaniel was recorded at the jail and played during his bench trial. McDaniel also testified against Gold-Smith.

The domestic battery charges are pending. Also pending is a Class 3 charge of Communicating With A Witness that alleges Gold-Smith contacted McDaniel indirectly while the solicitation case was pending in an effort to sway his testimony.

State’s Attorney Glasgow credited Assistant State’s Attorneys Adam Capelli and Peter Wilkes with securing the conviction and sentence in the solicitation for murder case.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.