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Mundelein man charged following November jailhouse attack

A Mundelein man who is in the Lake County jail while facing first-degree murder charges, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to also attacking guards the night of his November arrest.

Mark Oelerich, 22, is charged with 10 counts of aggravated battery to a correction officer and three counts of resisting arrest during his arraignment on those charges in front of Lake County Judge James K. Booras.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue said the latest charges against Oelerich were delayed because of issues with the Lake County grand jury.

LaRue said Oelerich attacked the guards Nov. 24 after being arrested and charged with first-degree murder for intentionally driving into oncoming traffic at 9:17 p.m. on Nov. 21 while heading north on Cedar Lake Road, authorities said.

Police officials said Oelerich was driving a family member's Cadillac SUV when he intentionally crossed the centerline on Cedar Lake Road near Route 120 in Round Lake and struck a vehicle driven south by Araceli Villasenor, 25, of Round Lake Beach.

Villasenor and her three children were taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville following the crash, where Villasenor was pronounced dead. The three children have since been treated and released from the hospital.

Oelerich told investigators he had been receiving signs from God that made him believe he was invincible, and that he intentionally caused the accident to test his own mortality, authorities said.

Oelerich was also charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs following the Nov. 21 crash.

If found guilty, Oelerich could be sentenced up to 60 years in prison. He is held in the jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

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