Murder suspect seeks attorney change

Cook County Assistant Public Defenders Daniel Naranjo and Calvin Aguilar expected to argue a motion to suppress statements on behalf of their client, Rafael Alvarado, Monday in Rolling Meadows courtroom 109.

Instead they found themselves sidelined by a very vocal defendant, who is charged with first-degree murder in the June 2009 death of his 31-year-old girlfriend Norma Favela and her unborn child in the couple's Hanover Park home in the 1700 block of Linden Avenue.

Alvarado repeatedly interrupted Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Fecarotta to insist that he no longer wanted to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender and that he wanted to file a motion to dismiss the 12-count indictment against him, which he claimed his attorneys failed to do.

Fecarotta ordered Alvarado not to interrupt, telling him he would have an opportunity to speak. However, the judge warned Alvarado that prosecutors could use anything he said against him at his trial, which is scheduled to begin next month.

The court then reminded Alvarado of his right to represent himself and informed him of the possible sentences. If convicted of Favela's murder, Alvarado could be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison because of the "wanton cruelty" of the act. If convicted of the murder of the unborn child, Alvarado could be sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison. The sentences would be served consecutively, Fecarotta said.

Fecarotta noted that in the year since he appointed the public defender's office to represent Alvarado, Alvarado never indicated he wanted to hire a private attorney.

"I found you indigent. You have the right to a public defender, but no right to pick a public defender," Fecarotta said.

Fecarotta allowed Alvarado to file the motion pro se, and gave him two weeks to hire an attorney. He next appears in court on Aug. 17.