Batavia man accused of threatening witnesses before trial

A 31-year-old Batavia man was arrested this week, as his trial for damaging an SUV in 2015 was about to begin, on charges he threatened and intimidated three possible witnesses.

Zia M. Shiekh, of the 2700 block of Andrews Drive, was arrested Monday at the Kane County Judicial Center, according to Batavia Police Det. Michelle Langston and Kane County court records.

Shiekh is charged with two felony counts of harassing witnesses, detaining or communicating with a witness and two counts of violating his bail, records show.

Langston said Shiekh is accused of making threats to witnesses in a criminal damage to property case in which he is accused of doing more than $300 damage to a Lincoln MKZ on Aug. 21, 2015, by repeatedly denting it. Langston could not elaborate on specific threats against witnesses because the case was ongoing.

However, in a court motion from last year to increase Shiekh's bail, prosecutors alleged how he violated his bail and caused anxiety to witnesses in the case.

"The defendant has violated the terms of his bond in that since January of 2016, the defendant has continued to send harassing text messages and phone calls to the alleged victim and the alleged victim's wife," prosecutors wrote in July 2016. "The defendant has consistently pursued a course of conduct to threaten, intimidate and physically prevent (prosecutors) from helping the case against him through social media, email, text messages, phone calls and even removing the valve stem cores from the victims tires to deflate them on the morning of a court date (April 7, 2016)."

Sheikh is held at the Kane County jail in $30,000 bail, meaning he must post $3,000 to be released while the charges are pending. If he does post bond, he is to be placed on electronic home monitoring.

If convicted of the charges of threatening witnesses, Sheikh faces three to seven years in prison, but probation is an option. The criminal damage to property charges carry a punishment of probation to up to three years in prison.

According to Kane County court records, Sheikh was arrested Nov. 25, 2011 and Feb. 2, 2012 in North Aurora and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years of probation in those cases, records show.