Suspect in St. Charles apartment attack asks for diversion program
A second defendant in an April 2012 attack in which two women are accused of entering the apartment of a St. Charles man and beating his new girlfriend hopes to enter Kane County’s pretrial diversion program.
Octavia L. Williams, 23, of the 200 block of Timber Trails Boulevard, Gilberts, told Judge Allen Anderson this week she plans to apply to the program, that if successful, will wipe out the felony home invasion charges against her that carry a minimum six-year prison term.
Williams is next due in court on Sept. 5, and between now and then, a panel will review her application and prosecutors will ask the victims in the case if they support the move as well.
The diversion program is designed for nonviolent, first-time felony offenders who must complete a period of probation, counseling, community service and other requirements, along with apologizing to the victim.
According to court records, Williams was arrested twice by Elgin police for driving while her license was suspended, including a January 2009 traffic stop in which she also was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol.
Williams and another woman are accused of entering the apartment of a 28-year-old St. Charles man in late April and attacking the man’s 19-year-old girlfriend. The teen had scratches and bruises and went to the hospital, but was not seriously injured.
William’s co-defendant, Caitlyn R. Knight, 21, of the 4N200 block of Citation Lane, Elburn, also is charged with home invasion.
St. Charles police said Knight had dated the man for about a month before breaking up a week before the alleged attack. Knight still had a key to the man’s apartment and used it to enter the residence in the middle of the night, police said.
Knight also has applied for the diversion program and is due in court on Sept. 28.