Elgin cigarette torture suspect back in jail on cocaine charge
An 18-year-old whom authorities say masterminded a February kidnapping and cigarette torture of a teen in Elgin is back in jail, now accused of possessing cocaine.
Luis M. Palomar, of Lake in the Hills, had been on electronic home monitoring at his aunt's house in Elgin after having his bail conditions changed last week.
He was picked up Tuesday on a warrant on charges that he possessed between 1 gram and 15 grams of cocaine on June 23, according to Kane County court records and the sheriff's office.
His new bail has been set at $500,000, meaning he must post $50,000 to be released from jail while the charges are pending.
He faces four to 15 years in prison on the cocaine charge and is next due in court on Sept. 30.
A message left with his defense attorney, Alison Motta, was not immediately returned Thursday.
Palomar and three other people are accused of kidnapping Palomar's 19-year-old ex-girlfriend in Elgin the night of Feb. 26, taking her clothes, tying her to a chair and beating her. They also are charged with using lit cigarettes to burn a shoulder tattoo on the teen that supposedly matched Palomar's. The teen was found the next morning after someone tipped police that she was being held against her will, according to Elgin police.
Three people - Megan A. Lino, 20, of Carpentersville; Kassandra Delgado, 21, and Ruby M. Gomez, 20, both of Elgin - were arrested within days of the attack.
All three are being held at the Kane County jail.
Palomar was arrested March 22 in Mexico and held at Los Angeles County jail until he was extradited to Kane County in mid-April. He was released after posting $20,000 of his $200,000 bail but arrested again in early August on felony charges he burglarized a car.
Palomar was jailed again when Judge Linda Abrahamson increased his bail to $300,000, but she agreed last week to a request by Motta to have Palomar be on electronic home monitoring at his aunt's house in Elgin.
Palomar and the three other defendants face six to 30 years in prison if convicted of kidnapping, aggravated battery and home invasion.