Briefs: Conviction in sex case
An 80-year-old Lombard man was convicted of sexual assault Tuesday in DuPage County court. Guiseppe Metallo was accused of inappropriately touching a woman who was taking care of his wife in December 2005. The caregiver filed a federal lawsuit last year, accusing Metallo's grandson, Joseph Metallo, a Lombard police officer, of hampering a criminal investigation of the incident. Lombard police officials and DuPage County prosecutors said they have investigated the allegations against Joseph Metallo and found no wrongdoing.
Death penalty uncertain
Saying seeking the death penalty is the toughest decision a prosecutor has to face, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow is taking his time in the case of Christopher Vaughn, 32. The Oswego man has pleaded innocent to killing his wife and three children in June in the family's SUV near Channahon. Following a court appearance Tuesday by Vaughn, who is charged with first-degree murder, Glasgow called seeking the death penalty a "grave decision," and said he was consulting with his top prosecutors. He is expected to make a decision at Vaughn's next court date on Sept. 20. Vaughn's defense attorneys had little comment other than to say their client was "fine."
Judge wants voter verdict
Associate Judge John Kinsella is ready for the next level.
Kinsella announced Tuesday he will run in the Republican primary for circuit court judge in DuPage County. The 51-year-old Bartlett resident has served on the bench for four years and was a prosecutor for 23 years. "I believe my years of law enforcement experience demonstrate my commitment to preserving the values we all share," Kinsella said, adding he wanted a role in the decision-making of how the court is managed. There are two vacancies on the circuit court now and a number of candidates are expected,
Murder suspect stays jailed
Bradley M. Justice will remain in jail but will no longer wear leg shackles during court appearances. The 29-year-old is charged with the armed robbery and murder of Karen Hassan of St. Charles while she was delivering pizzas near West Chicago Nov. 2. Judge Robert Anderson Tuesday denied a motion from Justice's attorneys to lift his no-bond restrictions to $100,000. Prosecutors cited evidence of Justice threatening to punch State's Attorney Joseph Birkett and referred to a harrowing cell phone recording of Hassan's last words as she cried out, "Why are you doing this?" Justice has pleaded innocent. His attorneys also asked for leniency regarding his leg shackles, which Anderson granted.
Probation in slashing case
A Villa Park man who pleaded guilty to three cases of aggravated battery involving slashing people with a knife was sentenced to 30 months probation Tuesday. Robert Gorecki, 49, was arrested in March in connection with four stabbings, including an incident where he cut the cheek of a York High School track and field team member running on the Illinois Prairie Path, officials said. Gorecki already had served 182 days in jail. His probation involves counseling, no contact with the victims and participation in the county's Special Needs Advocacy Program, which serves offenders with mental illnesses.
No soldier rivalry
Lee Windsor, deputy director of the University of New Brunswick Centre for the Study of War and Society, believes a perceived Anglo-American rivalry in World War II was a myth. Windsor will speak at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Windsor will show that, contrary to Hollywood movies such as "Patton," soldiers from different nations found joint solutions to common problems throughout the war. Parking and admission are free.