Lindenhurst man denies hate crime
A Lindenhurst man charged with a hate crime pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.
Judd Sircy, 34, faces up to three years in prison if convicted of the felony charge.
Assistant State's Attorney Steven Derue said Sircy, of the 100 block of Crooked Lake Lane, was at home on the afternoon of Oct. 24 when he saw a crew of landscapers working near his house. Derue said Sircy walked up to the men and shouted several curse words and ethnic slurs.
The men ignored Sircy, Derue said, and Sircy returned to his house.
A short time later, Derue said, one of the men on the landscaping crew saw Sircy at one of the windows of his house pointing a rifle at him.
The man called police, and officers from Lindenhurst and Lake Villa responded, Derue said.
Sircy eventually consented to a search of his house, Derue said, and police found a BB rifle and pellet pistol inside the house.
Circuit Judge John Phillips scheduled a trial of the case for Jan. 25 and ordered Sircy, who is free on $2,500 bond, to appear in court Jan. 6.