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Streamwood man not in court to hear guilty verdict

A Rolling Meadows jury found a Streamwood man guilty late Wednesday of drug and weapons charges that will send him to prison for the rest of his life.

But James Utley, previously convicted of delivery of a controlled substance and aggravated battery with a firearm, did not hear the verdict, which came after more than five hours of deliberations.

Utley, who was on bond, failed to appear for the verdict announcement. Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta issued a no-bail warrant for the 37-year-old man whom jurors found guilty of being an armed habitual criminal. They also found him guilty of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Prosecutors during closing arguments said Streamwood police and Illinois Department of Corrections parole agents put an end to Utley's "drug-dealing days" when they went to his Fulton Drive home about 6:30 a.m. February 28, 2014, armed with an arrest warrant charging the twice-convicted offender with violating his parole.

Officers testified they recovered from master bedroom closets 27.6 grams of heroin, 78.7 grams of cocaine, digital scales, small plastic bags and a nylon hat bag containing a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, a .38-caliber revolver and more than 150 rounds of ammunition.

"He had everything he needed to be a drug dealer, and thankfully police and parole agents put an end to it," said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Piper during closing arguments. "His intent was crystal clear."

Utley testified the drugs and guns found at the home did not belong to him. He said his estranged wife lived with their children in the Streamwood home while he lived with his sister in Schaumburg. He said he was at the house that day to pick up his son. Utley also claimed police fabricated his statement and coerced him into signing it by threatening to charge his wife and turn his kids over to the Department of Children and Family Services.

"Nothing in there is true," said Utley, referring to a summary of statements police say he made during interrogation.

"I had no choice. I was trying to protect my children ... I said, 'I'll say whatever you want me to say,'" testified Utley, who claimed police told him they would give $1,000 recovered from the Streamwood home to his children if he confessed.

Defense attorney Glenn Jazwiec said his client was an easy target because he's a felon.

Police officers "staged evidence and scripted testimony" because that was easiest for them, Jazwiec said during closing arguments, adding that police never produced a lease or a utility bill addressed to Utley at that address.

"Streamwood police did things in a lackadaisical way," said Jazwiec, who cast suspicion on Utley's wife, suggesting that proving a case against her was too difficult so police targeted Utley.

"They went the easy route," he said.

On Tuesday, Illinois Department of Corrections parole agent Kenya Clark testified that during the search of the home she found Utley's wallet, a Social Security card and a bank statement with the Streamwood address listing both Utley and his wife, which prosecutors offered as proof Utley resided there.

Prosecutor Mike Crowe called the defense's claims "absurd." He pointed to Utley's confession as evidence of his guilt, citing statements Utley made about being a former gang member who needed weapons for "security reasons." He also told police the $1,000 they recovered was "not part of the drugs," Crowe said.

"How would police know he's an ex-gang member? If he doesn't live there, how does he know the money is there?" Crowe said.

"(Police) weren't looking for guns, ammo and drugs," said Crowe. "They were assisting in a parole arrest and they happened to find a drug dealer's cache and a hatbox arsenal."

Streamwood man called 'habitual criminal'

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