Articles filed under Crime

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Vernon Hills man charged with hiring hitman to kill friend’s mother May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
A Vernon Hills man is accused of hiring an undercover police officer he believed was a hitman to kill the mother of a woman who was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash with him last year. Jonathan Villasana, 24, of the 0 to 100 block of Timber Lane, is being held in the Lake County jail on $1 million bond after being charged with solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire.
2,000 marijuana plants found near Hebron May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
McHenry County sheriff's deputies were called to a campsite near Hebron on Saturday for a trespassing complaint. The sheriff's narcotics unit recovered about 2,000 marijuana seedlings, fertilizer, soil, hoses, plant food, water and camping equipment.
Willowbrook man found guilty in Darien triple murder May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
A Willowbrook man has been found guilty of convincing a friend to murder his ex-girlfriend and other members of her family. It’s been more than three years since Jacob Nodarse shot and killed three members of the Darien family. On Tuesday night, a DuPage County jury ruled that Johnny Borizov, one of Nodarse’s friends, orchestrated the crime. The deliberated for about 2½ hours before convicting Borizov on charges of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder. Prosecutors said Borizov, 31, tricked Nodarse into carrying out the March 2, 2010, shootings of Jeffrey and Lori Kramer and their 20-year-old son, Mike. Borizov’s defense attorneys tried to prove he’s innocent.
Inmates in Chicago, Russia to play online chess May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
Inmates in the Cook County jail are readying for an online chess match against inmates in Russia. The Cook County sheriff's office says the games will be played Wednesday morning.
Inverness man gets probation for retirement home burglary May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
An Inverness man pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking a flat screen television from a Palatine retirement home. In exchange for his guilty plea to burglary, Leonardo Adames was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to pay $500 restitution.
Boy’s body pulled from Des Plaines River May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said the boy was found in the water near McCormick Woods in North Riverside. The sheriff's office said the Cook County medical examiner plans a Wednesday autopsy to identify the boy and determine a cause of death. Sheriff's officials say a kayaker spotted the body Tuesday afternoon.
Monk pleads not guilty to child abduction charges, remains jailed May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
A Benedictine monk accused of attempting to lure four teens into his car on two occasions in Antioch pleaded not guilty Tuesday to child abduction charges that could put him in prison for up to three years. Thomas J. Chmura, 57, with a listed address at St. Benedict's Abbey in Benet Lake, Wis., entered his not guilty plea as his attorneys unsucessfully petitoned a Lake County judge to lower his bond to $50,000 and allow him to reside at his adopted father's home in Lansing, Ill.
Man faces life in prison in drug conspiracy caseMay 14, 2013 12:00 AM
A Lake County man once accused of using his family's Grayslake restaurant to traffic drugs is facing new drug conspiracy charges that could put him behind bars for life, authorities said Tuesday. Jack Papandreou, 37, formerly of Wadsworth, pleaded not guilty in Lake County court Tuesday to three counts of criminal drug conspiracy.
Prosecutors: Woman beat elderly mom to death, left body in closet May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
Cook County prosecutors say a Chicago woman beat her elderly mother to death hours after celebrating the victim's 82nd birthday over the Mother's Day weekend. Janette Glenn on Tuesday was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bond in the death of Catherine Glenn. The elderly woman's bruised and bloody body was found in a closet early Sunday by another daughter.
Sentence handed down in 1st televised trial in Illinois May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
A Kankakee man has received a 78-year prison sentence in a case that was the first Illinois trial to feature live, gavel-to-gavel TV coverage.
Daley nephew’s manslaughter trial could start next year May 14, 2013 12:00 AM
McHenry County Judge Maureen McIntyre told attorneys Tuesday to "pencil in January or February" but otherwise gave no indications of when a manslaughter trial could begin for the nephew of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Richard Vanecko faces charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Mount Prospect resident and Harper College student David Koschman.
Mount Prospect man charged with assaulting a child May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
A Cook County judge set bail at $700,000 total for a 29-year-old Mount Prospect man charged with molesting a 4-year-old. Jorge Caporel, who has no criminal background, faces two charges of predatory criminal sexual assault, class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
10 charged in two-day Aurora prostitution sting May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
Six women and four men face charges following a two-day prostitution sting staged last week by Aurora police officers. The operation, which was staged Wednesday and Thursday at an undisclosed private residence in Aurora, targeted several different online sites known for advertising sexual services.
Lake Co. sheriff’s deputy charged with solicitation, obstruction of justice May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
A Lake County Sheriff's deputy is suspended without pay after he was charged Friday with solicitation of a sex act and obstruction of justice. Eric Francke, a five-year department veteran, was arrested as part of a one-month investigation Mundelein police launched after arresting two men on allegations they forced a downstate woman to work as a prostitute.
Specifics sought in DuPage IT contract-rigging caseMay 13, 2013 12:00 AM
Two of the three men charged in a contract-rigging scandal at the DuPage County Forest Preserve District have requested — and are expected to receive — a more detailed explanation of some of the charges they are facing. Attorneys representing Arif Mahmood and David Tepper say they need the so-called "bill of particulars" to properly defend their clients against prosecutors' claims that the three conspired to scam the district out of more than $150,000 over a roughly six-year period.
Borizov won’t testify in murder trial May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
A man charged with being the mastermind behind the March 2010 slayings of three members of a Darien family won't take the stand in his own defense. As a result, the case against murder suspect Johnny Borizov could go to the jury as early as Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors claim Borizov was involved in a bitter child-custody dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Angela Kramer, when he enlisted Jacob Nodarse to murder her family.
Elgin cocaine dealer gets 5 years in prison May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
A 32-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to cocaine charges after authorities searched his Elgin home last July. Jayson P. Sturdivant, of Elgin, was on probation for a felony drug charge in 2010, pleaded guilty late Friday in exchange for prosecutors dropping the most serious charges that could have landed him in prison up to 30 years. His trial was set for Monday.
Huntley man charged with fifth DUI May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
A 49-year-old Huntley man was arrested early Monday in Elgin and charged with his fifth DUI offense. Timothy Bartlett has four previous convctions after DUI arrests in 1986 and 1999 in DuPage County and 1997 and 1998 in Cook County, police said. He faces four to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Wheaton man faces child porn charges May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
A 49-year-old Wheaton man has been charged with aggravated child pornography following an undercover operation conducted by Wheaton police and the DuPage County Sexual Predator Electronic Exploitation Division.
Six charged, two injured in Naperville bar fight May 13, 2013 12:00 AM
An early morning fight Sunday at BlackFinn American Saloon in downtown Naperville left two people injured, including a bar employee, and resulted in charges against six patrons, authorities said Monday. Police chief Robert Marshall said saloon employees called police shortly after 1 a.m. when a "significant rumble" broke out on the third floor of the establishment at 16 W. Jefferson Ave.