Bond raised in Carpentersville man's deportation case

A McHenry County judge on Tuesday increased bond for a Carpentersville man accused of the attempted murder of his girlfriend.

Esteban Calleja, 43, will now have to post $25,000 to be released from the McHenry County Jail, where he is being held for violating his bond terms.

Prosecutors sought the higher bond because they feared Calleja, who is facing imminent deportation, would seek deportation to dodge the attempted murder charge.

Prosecutors welcomed the judge's decision.

"He will be held in the McHenry County Jail," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Michael Combs said. "He won't be deported."

Authorities say Calleja, of the 3000 block of Wakefield Drive, stabbed his 38-year-old girlfriend in the chest and back during a July 25 dispute at her Crystal Lake home.

After Calleja posted his initial bond, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed him under supervised release while preparing to deport him for being in the United States illegally.

Calleja was rearrested last week because, authorities said, he sent a text message to his girlfriend in September - violating a condition of his bond.

Calleja's attorney could not be reached for comment.

His next court date is in December.