Articles filed under Hitzeman, Harry

• Judges do not communicate with people not involved with case May 20, 2012 12:00 AM
  The 16th Judicial Circuit office in St. Charles has received more than 20 letters and phone calls for the judge who will decide the sentence of repeat dog abuser Phillip Rinn from Aurora on May 31. But Judge Timothy Sheldon won't read a single word of them. Not because he doesn't care — he's not allowed to discuss the case.
  

   

• Woman who killed 2 motorcyclists wants sentence reduced May 13, 2012 12:00 AM
  A 27-year-old Aurora woman is still fighting her seven-year prison sentence for causing a crash three years ago that killed a St. Charles couple and injured 12 other motorcyclists, including a man who is paralyzed from the waist down. Alia Bernard's attorneys are appealing her case and will argue July 2 to have her sentenced reduced.
  

   

• Quick ‘verdict’ means cameras could be coming to Kane courtrooms May 6, 2012 12:00 AM
  When a committee studying whether to allow cameras in Kane County courtrooms retreated behind closed doors last week, it was a little like a jury going to deliberate. In this case, the deliberations led to a decision to move forward with plans allowing cameras and other recording devices to capture court proceedings.
  

   

• 74-year-old man makes Kane history — in a bad way Apr 29, 2012 12:00 AM
  A 74-year-old Aurora man has made Kane County history, but not exactly in a good way. A jury recently convicted Thomas C. Adams, formerly of North Aurora and most recently of the 200 block of South Union Street, of felony aggravated stalking and violating an order of protection. Adams is the first person to be convicted by a Kane County jury under the state's updated stalking statute.
  

   

• Kane offers parents ways to dispose of unused prescription drugsApr 23, 2012 12:00 AM
  Prescription drug abuse is the third most common way kids get high for the first time. This Thursday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is helping people eliminate this risk in their homes, with its fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
  

   

• Big month for Campton Hills police officer Apr 15, 2012 12:00 AM
  It's been quite a month for Campton Hills Police Officer Elliot Rose. This week, he will be one of 13 "heroes" honored by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago for helping an injured motorcyclist in August 2011. Earlier this month, he garnered the Rising Shield of Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
  

   

• FBI releases bank robbery statisticsApr 4, 2012 12:00 AM
  Want to avoid being in bank when its robbed? Then it's probably best to not visit one on a Friday. Or in the morning. In California.
  

   

• Bonfire, cellphone photo lands Elgin-area woman in hot water Mar 25, 2012 12:00 AM
  A bonfire and cellphone have combined to be big trouble for a woman from unincorporated Elgin. Nora S. Napier, 61, faces felony charges after photographing a Kane County sheriff's deputy that told her to put out a bonfire outside her home. Napier is charged with violation of the state's eavesdropping statute, along with aggravated resisting arrest for kicking a sheriff's deputy in the legs, according to a sheriff's report.
  

   

• Prosecutors staff election complaint hotline Mar 18, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Kane County states attorneys office will have teams of prosecutors spread out throughout the county ready to respond to complaints and allegations of voter fraud, electioneering and other possible infractions for Tuesdays primary election.
  

   

• Suburban video shows 7 signs of possible terrorist planning Mar 11, 2012 12:00 AM
  Is your neighbor a terrorist? OK, that's an extreme question. But a new video called "Homeland Security begins at Home You Can Help" is available at the St. Charles Police Department to residents and community groups recognize signs of possible terrorism.
  

   

• Aurora man gets 4 years for murder in plea deal Mar 4, 2012 12:00 AM
  A 46-year-old Aurora man on Friday began serving a four-year prison term after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Kane County Judge Timothy Sheldon sentenced Jose L. Renteria, of the 400 block of Claim Street, to prison even though Sheldon agreed that Renteria was not the aggressor in the March 7, 2009 stabbing death of Bradley Vahl, 31, of Aurora.
  

   

• Mom praises Aurora police synthetic pot sting Feb 26, 2012 12:00 AM
  Aurora police recently checked businesses to see if they were breaking the city’s ban on the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana. Police did not find any synthetic marijuana at seven businesses on Feb. 18, and Aurora mom Karen Dobner, whose son Max died in a car crash in North Aurora last year after using synthetic pot, applauded their efforts.
  

   

• Elgin man wants Certificate of Innocence Feb 19, 2012 12:00 AM
  Last year, an appellate court reversed a conviction and vacated a subsequent 15-year prison sentence for an Elgin man on charges of possession with intent to deliver more than a kilogram of cocaine. Now that man, James Dumas is taking things a step further. The 39-year-old has filed court papers asking authorities to grant him a Certificate of Innocence.
  

   

• Batavia resident excited about his new role as judge Feb 12, 2012 12:00 AM
  For William J. Parkhurst, serving as the newest judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit comes down to one mandate.“What (Kane County Judge Judith Brawka) says is you have to listen and try to be fair and that’s what I’m going to try to do,” said the 51-year-old Batavia resident.
  

   

• Court: deportation shouldn’t shorten jail sentence Feb 5, 2012 12:00 AM
  Should non-U.S. citizens get lighter sentences if they're just going to be deported at the end anyway? An appellate court panel doesn't think so, as it recently upheld a 55-year prison term for a Jamaican citizen convicted of stabbing and killing his ex-girlfriend, a 25-year-old Aurora woman.
  

   

• Kane to hold ‘No Refusal’ event for Super Bowl Jan 29, 2012 12:00 AM
  The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office has added a new page to its DUI enforcement playbook. Sunday night, the state’s attorney’s office will hold its eighth “No Refusal” operation — and first during the Super Bowl — in multiple jurisdictions in Kane County. The event makes it easier for authorities to gain search warrants for impaired drivers refusing breath tests.
  

   

• Elgin man blows DUI probation, goes to prison Jan 22, 2012 12:00 AM
  Kane County Judge David Akemann recently sentenced John J. Kohlbeck, 43, of Elgin, to four years in prison after he violated his felony DUI probation several times, drank nine days in a row, and at one point, had a blood alcohol content of more than five times the legal threshold.
  

   

• Man wants a job with FBI, instead gets 80 months in jail Jan 15, 2012 12:00 AM
  If you’re going to apply to the FBI for a job, you don’t want to have any skeletons in your closet. Or child pornography on your computer. Harry Hitzeman writes about the plight of a DeKalb man.
  

   

• ‘Sovereign’ Woodstock man fought the law. Guess who won? Jan 8, 2012 12:00 AM
  A 57-year-old Woodstock man might be singing that old song, “I Fought The Law.” Despite his arguments that court orders didn’t apply to him, Hugh M. McGinley faces jail time after a jury convicted him of living inside a home that he was previously evicted from.
  

   

• Dispute between bar, Carpentersville man borders on absurd Dec 26, 2011 12:00 AM
  An ongoing dispute between the Kane County Bar Association and a Carpentersville man who the association believes was trying to practice law without a license has gone from adversarial to almost absurd.