Mundelein teen to enter halfway house
A Mundelein teen who pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the deaths of two friends will leave jail soon for a halfway house and substance abuse treatment.
An attorney for Richard Wood told Circuit Judge John Phillips that a bed could be available for his client at Bridge House in Waukegan before the end of the year.
Wood, 18, was driving a car that went out of control as it crossed railroad tracks on Diamond Lake Road near Mundelein on Nov. 13, 2005.
Israel Bueno and Jason Gembra, both 16, died when Wood's car slid sideways into a tree.
Phillips sentenced Wood to 30 months on probation Dec. 4. Phillips said he might order as much as six months in the jail work release program, depending on the rehabilitation program the probation department designed for Wood.
The probation department recommended Wood be transferred from the jail on Thursday and Phillips said he would go along with the recommendation.
The probation department also told Phillips that Wood is acceptable for the 50 hours of public service work Phillips ordered him to do. That work is in the form of speaking to groups of young people about the dangers of reckless behavior.
Phillips reminded Wood that all the rules and conditions of probation apply when he is staying at Bridge House and warned him against any violations.