Why did Chicago real estate developer Frank “Marty” Paris, a father of seven children, spent Christmas in a Cook County, Ill. jail, recognized as one of the most dangerous jails in America?

It’s not because he’s a criminal.

It’s because he didn’t pay $300,000 to the Court and agree to be on electronic home monitoring as part of contentious divorce proceedings that have racked up a reported $1.6 million in legal bills for Paris.

That’s right — this isn’t about criminal proceedings, it’s about legal bills in a divorce case.

Contrast that with 21-year-old Chicagoan Jhaeim King, “who was arrested on September 9 after he allegedly crashed a stolen car on Lake Shore Drive, then ran away and hopped a fence to enter the Taste of Chicago,” reported CWB Chicago.

Thanks to Illinois’ new cashless bail law, Cook County Judge Tyria Walton allowed King out of jail without any cash bail and put him on electronic home monitoring.This, despite his “two adult gun convictions, and two juvenile adjudications for robbery.” You can view King’s arrest history here.

While Paris sat in Cook County jail, King was chased by Chicago cops after they say King toss a handgun and run into an apartment building, and he’s now back in jail.

This is similar to 18-year-old Darien Hall, who was allowed out on bail and electronic home monitoring after being charged with gun and drugs charges in September.

While free from jail, he was arrested again during a traffic stop on Nov. 30 after prosecutors said “Hall ran from the car’s back seat and tossed a gun into a gangway as officers chased him.”

Meanwhile, Paris sat in Cook County jail, which is no picnic.

Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz of the National Institute for Corrections testified in 2014 that the jail is one of the most dangerous in America, with detainees facing an “extremely high” risk of harm, reported the Chicago Tribune.

It’s not as if Paris hasn’t made an effort. Court documents show that Paris had paid $500,000 in family support since last December.

Democrat Cook County Judge Abby Fishman Romanek, along with Paris’ ex-wife and her lawyers, however, assert that Paris has a net worth $20 million, and should easily be able to pay the legal bills.

Paris, however, says that his business has high gross receipts, but much smaller net revenue. This is common for real estate development, as it is for many industries, including advertising and even the legal industry.

If, for example, a development company sells a property, the full sales price might quickly pass through the company’s bank account, but the company keeps a much smaller commission before distributing the rest to clients, partners, and vendors.

Amidst all the bills and judgements, Paris applied for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Chicago federal court earlier this year. This would make it extremely difficult for him to obtain a non-personal loan to foot the $300,000 bill to be let free from Cook County jail. 

While Paris sits in jail, his seven children remain without their father. 

What’s more, reports The Real Deal, Paris’ firm is at risk of losing a major development deal, which would further crunch his finances and ability to pay the fees and judgements.

Will Paris start 2024 in Cook County jail?

American Greatness will keep our readers updated on this developing story…

Pictured, top: Marty Paris, left, and Democrat Cook County Judge Abby Fishman Romanek (Source: Facebook)