Bond lowered for suspect in Crystal Lake slaying

A Carpentersville man charged with attempted murder in a July 12 stabbing at a Crystal Lake house party remained locked up in the McHenry County jail Thursday after a judge refused to let him free on his own recognizance.

Judge Joseph Condon ruled that the charge against Jonathan A. Soto, 22, was too serious, and the consequences of a conviction too severe, for him to be allowed out of jail while awaiting trial without first putting up a large cash bond.

"This is an offense that is not probationable if he is convicted," Condon said. "The lack of a possibility for probation, in my mind, is substantial incentive to flee."

The judge, however, did cut Soto's bond in half from $30,000 to $15,000. As of late Thursday, he had not posted bond.

Soto has been in custody since hours after, charges allege, he stabbed a 19-year-old Crystal Lake man twice in the upper back with a large kitchen knife. Soto and the stabbing victim knew one another, Crystal Lake police said, but the cause of the altercation outside a large party was unclear.

The victim was hospitalized briefly after the incident, but is expected to make a full recovery

In seeking a recognizance bond Thursday, Soto's attorney, DJ Tegeler, attacked the case against his client. According to police reports, Tegeler said, the victim was so intoxicated he could not identify who stabbed him and an eyewitness with Soto that night told police he was not the perpetrator.

"Obviously this isn't the strongest case you've seen come before you," Tegeler told the judge.

Soto, who also is charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault, is scheduled to return to court Aug. 22. If found guilty of the charges, he could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.