Judge locks out public in Nicarico case

Concerned about publicity tainting a potential jury pool, the judge presiding over the Brian Dugan death penalty case continued Friday holding court hearings behind closed doors.

DuPage Circuit Judge George Bakalis met with lawyers for 55 minutes Friday along with the defendant. The group emerged and set an April 30 status date.

Lawyers, citing the judge's unofficial gag order, would not answer two newspaper reporters' questions afterward. The judge also sealed the official case file from public inspection.

The case is set for trial Sept. 22, but lawyers have said Dugan is considering a guilty plea to perhaps sway a judge or jury at sentencing that his life should be spared for his cooperation.

The lengthy closed-door meetings have become routine in the high-profile murder case, which has had rare substantive hearings in open court in more than three years.

Dugan, 52, formerly of Aurora, is accused of abducting, raping and killing 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico of Naperville in February 1983. Prosecutors said they have DNA evidence linking him to the crime. He has been serving two life prison terms since 1985 for two later sex slayings.