Trial date set in 2013 murder of Elgin artist
A man facing life in prison on charges he broke into an Elgin townhouse and killed a woman who just moved from Chicago is scheduled to face trial Jan. 26.
Paul. A. Johnson, a 35-year-old lifelong Elgin resident who was on parole at the time of the slaying, is accused of fatally stabbing Lisa Koziol-Ellis with a screwdriver as he burglarized her townhouse in the Garden Quarter development on the city's near west side.
Johnson lived in the same townhouse unit as Koziol-Ellis, 33, who had just moved to the area with her husband, Dash Ellis.
Kane County prosecutors plan to argue the crime was exceptionally heinous, which if a jury agrees will trigger extended term sentencing of anywhere from 20 years to life in prison if Johnson is convicted.
Authorities say Johnson broke into the townhouse March 2, 2013 to steal a DVD player and other items. Koziol-Ellis, whose artist nickname was Foxy Goat Lisa, fought with Johnson during the burglary, according to authorities who say he used a screwdriver and a knife found in the home to kill her. She was stabbed in the head, neck and on the sides of her body, between her waist and armpit, officials said.
Johnson was arrested about two weeks after the murder and remains in the Kane County jail on $5 million bail.
At the time, Johnson was on parole for a 2010 residential burglary in Elgin, and he has a lengthy criminal record in Cook and Kane counties, records show.
Probation for Batavia man
A Batavia man was sentenced to 30 months probation after recently pleading guilty to resisting police in February, according to court records and his attorney.
Mark S. Feely, 53, of the 200 block of North Harrison Street, initially was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, a felony that carries a sentence of anywhere from probation to seven years in prison.
Feely, who had no previous felony arrests or convictions, pleaded guilty to felony resisting a peace officer.
He spent two days in jail for the offense, must pay $2,290 in fines and fees, and must wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet for 90 days, records show.
Defense attorney Gary Johnson said his client had been drinking and was shoveling snow, when he fell and hit his head, suffering a concussion.
"That contributed to things getting out of control," Johnson said. "He's a good guy. My client had a bad night."
If Feely violates probation, he could be resentenced to up to three years in prison.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com