Best man denies post-wedding theft
It is accepted practice for the bride and groom to give a little something to the members of their wedding party.
Officials said Monday that Lamont Session, 29, took that custom to extreme by looting a Waukegan couple's apartment just days after serving as the best man at their wedding.
Session pleaded not guilty Monday in Lake County Circuit Court and faces up to five years in prison if convicted of felony theft.
Assistant State's Attorney James Newman said Session, of the 2700 block of Westwood Avenue in Waukegan, was the best man at the couple's wedding in early August 2008. And, the couple allowed Session to stay in their apartment in the 2600 block of Delany Road while they went on their honeymoon, Newman said.
When they returned home, the couple discovered their video game equipment, laptop computer and digital camera were missing.
Waukegan police found some of the items in a local pawnshop, and an employee of a video game store identified Session as the person who sold him a pair of game controllers.
The total value of all of the items is around $1,200, Newman said.
Session was arrested in October, but dropped from sight shortly after posting bond, Newman said. Session surrendered over the weekend and appeared Monday before Circuit Judge John Phillips.
Phillips scheduled a trial of the case for Sept. 28 and ordered Session to appear in court Aug. 17.