Teens charged with damaging police property

Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon ordered bail Monday ranging from $5,000 to no release for three Arlington Heights teens charged with damaging a police department radar trailer located near Heritage Park in Arlington Heights.

John J. Cerola, 19; James Hannon, 18; and Nicholas Saegebrecht, 18, were charged with criminal damage to government supported property, a Class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison. Probation is also an option.

The incident occurred about 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Cotter. The teens caused more than $500 damage to the device which indicates a motorist’s speed and which Cotter said was clearly labeled as Arlington Heights police property.

Each defendant made a statement admitting his involvement, Cotter said.

Hanlon set bail at $5,000 for Cerola, of the 800 block of N. Salem, who said he intends to attend Harper College in the fall. Cerola’s background includes one-year supervision and 10 days in the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program for a 2009 conviction for knowingly damaging property.

Hanlon set bail at $7,000 for Hannon, a college student who lives in the 1000 block of N. Kaspar and who prosecutors say has no criminal background.

Hanlon ordered Saegebrecht, of the 1500 block of S. Yale, held without bond because he was on probation at the time of his arrest. In March, a judge sentenced Saegebrecht to 24 months probation for possession of a controlled substance and robbery. Those sentences were ordered served concurrently, Cotter said. Saegebrecht is to appear in court on July 21 on charges he violated that probation.

Hanlon ordered the defendants placed on an 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. curfew and submit to drug evaluation. She granted the request of Hannon’s attorney that he be allowed to leave the country on a prepaid, preplanned trip with his parents.

“In light of the fact that he has absolutely no background, I’ll grant the special conditions,” Hanlon said.

She also granted Cerola permission to travel with his family to a wedding out-of-state.

The defendants next appear in court on July 29.