Kane County felon had drinking party for kids, cops say
A Geneva man, convicted of stabbing his wife in 2001, is now accused of throwing a teen drinking party at a St. Charles-area warehouse where he once worked.
James E. Hughes, 42, of the 100 block of Kane Street, has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child and unlawful permitting of a minor to become intoxicated, police said Tuesday. Five Geneva teens also are charged with alcohol-related offenses.
Police say Hughes answered the door at an industrial warehouse formerly occupied by Flavor Hut International, 3N670 N. 17th St., while officers were investigating reports of possible drinking, drugs and gang activity about 1:06 a.m. Aug. 6. Inside, police said they found a group of teenagers hiding in the bathroom and a large supply of alcohol scattered about the building in unincorporated St. Charles Township.
Hughes initially told police "it was just him inside" but later admitted he was "drinking with the kids and should have known better," according to an arrest report. Breath tests showed four of five teens tested were drunk and one had alcohol in his system, police said.
Formerly of Aurora, Batavia and Elgin, Hughes has an extensive criminal record that includes a conviction of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for stabbing his wife several times, then slashing the tires on her vehicle and taunting her while she lay injured on the ground, according to court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison for that offense.
In addition, Hughes' record in Kane County includes charges dating back to the late 1980s of burglary, domestic battery, drunken driving, obstruction of justice, theft and drug possession.
According to police, Hughes knew the teenagers at the party - three have criminal records of their own - through his teenage daughter. He apparently entered the building using a key left with him by building owner Terry Esser.
Esser said Tuesday that Hughes was a part-time employee who spent about four hours a month doing odd jobs at his animal feed business, such as cleaning.
Esser left Hughes with the key after recently relocating Flavor Hut to Wisconsin so Hughes could let service people in and out while the building is up for sale.
"He's a ... good guy, would do anything for you," Esser said of Hughes. "But I think alcohol kind of runs his life at times."
Esser said he was aware of part but not all of Hughes' criminal history. Still, he said he didn't mind when he noticed about three weeks ago that Hughes had parked a small motorhome at the warehouse and was running an extension cord to the building for electricity.
"In the last year or so, he really seemed to have some problems," Esser said.
Attempts to reach Hughes Tuesday were unsuccessful. His voice mail was full and not accepting new messages.
Police identified the teens charged with underage drinking as Jillian M. Cadwallader, Kathryn M. Kleeman, Mitchell R. Lyons, and Richard J.A. Sampson, all 17 years old and from Geneva. Antonios K. Roumeliotis, also 17 and of Geneva, was charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a minor.
County court records show separate charges of mob action and aggravated battery currently are pending against Roumeliotis and Lyons. Roumeliotis' record also includes previous charges of drug possession, resisting police and underage drinking, among other offenses. And earlier this year, Sampson was charged with resisting police, underage drinking and disorderly conduct, records show. Upcoming court dates related to the latest case weren't immediately available.