Kane County judge passes on case, knows defendant

Kane County Judge Timothy Sheldon said Thursday that he cannot preside over an armed robbery and home invasion case out of Elgin because he knows one of the defendants' families.

Five men, including 22-year-old Donnell J. Lyle of Elgin, are charged with tying up an adult and three children and then robbing them at gunpoint last month on the 3600 block of Old Bridge Lane in Elgin.

Sheldon, who was originally assigned the case, said Thursday he is passing the matter to fellow Judge Allen M. Anderson because Sheldon knows Lyle and his family.

"He went to school with my children and played football with one of my boys," Sheldon said. "His parents are friends of mine."

Aside from Lyle, four men have been charged with home invasion and armed robbery: Elgin residents Daniel A. Feliciano, 20, and Christian J. Lopez-Bonilla, 19, and Poplar Grove residents Leville Starks, 32, and Frederick J. Neal, 34.

Their next court date is Sept. 18.