Frigid charity dip in store for Aurora police, residents
Aurora police officers, dispatchers and residents will have a little frigid fun next month in an effort to raise money for the Illinois Special Olympics when they dress up as judges and jump in a Yorkville lake.
Aurora police raised $5,100 last year and hope to top that March 8 in the 12th annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge at Loon Lake inside Silver Springs Park.
One of the organizers, Aurora Police Officer Lisa Carter, said participants have again come up with a fun theme - this one dubbed "Brr-randa Rights" as a play on Miranda Rights read to each suspect in an arrest.
Carter said the seven officers, three dispatchers and six residents who have signed up so far also are searching for wigs and gavels to accompany their black robes.
"We're going to be dressing up as judges this year. That should be interesting," she said. "We're actually getting more citizens to join our team this year."
Carter said she has participated since 2008, and even though she was injured last year, participants told her it was the coldest they had experienced. This winter has been mild so far, so are the team and Carter getting off easy this time around?
"This weather is so crazy," she said. "Whether it's cold or not, we'll still jump."
Last year, 7,300 "plungers" across the state raised $2.1 million.
For more information or to donate, email carterl@apd.aurora.il.us.
A fund has also been established at the Aurora Police Credit Union, 1200 E. Indian Trail Road. Direct donations can be made at soill.org/polar-plunge and entering Aurora Police in the "Find a Participant" search bar.
Prison for sex abuse
A 24-year-old Carpentersville man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to criminal sexual abuse, according to court records.
Jorge Tellez-Orduno, of the 700 block of Lowell Drive, had been held at the Kane County jail since his arrest Jan. 16, 2014, on the felony charges of criminal sexual abuse of a victim more than five years younger than him.
Judge Clint Hull accepted the plea, which also included $1,380 in fines and fees. Tellez-Orduno faced anywhere from probation to seven years in prison if convicted at trial.
He must register as a sex offender after his prison release, which is estimated for mid-July based on credit for nearly a year at the Kane County jail and expected time off for good behavior in prison.
Ex-Sycamore man pleads
A former Sycamore man faces up to 10 years in prion after admitting to possessing child pornography.
Michael Podolsky, 27, now of Elkader, Iowa, recently pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing more than 600 images of child pornography on and before July 2013 at his home.
Podolsky, who will be sentenced April 29 by U.S. District Judge Frederick Kapala, also can be fined up to $250,000.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com