Prosecutors want to hike bond for Elgin kidnapping, cigarette torture suspect
Authorities want to increase or revoke bond for the second time for the fifth and final defendant in an Elgin kidnapping and cigarette torture case because she left the state without a judge's permission.
Kane County prosecutors have asked a judge to increase bail for Megan A. Lino, 21, of Carpentersville, who is charged with numerous felonies, including aggravated kidnapping, home invasion and aggravated battery in connection with the Feb. 26, 2016, case in Elgin.
According to police, prosecutors and court records, Lino and others had a role in forcefully abducting a teen from the 500 block of Levine Court and taking her to a residence on the 300 block of Raymond Street. There, she was stripped of her clothes, tied to a chair, and repeatedly beaten overnight, with her assailants using lit cigarettes to burn a shoulder tattoo that matched that of her ex-boyfriend, Luis A. Palomar.
The teen was found the next day after someone called police to report a person being held against her will. In following days and weeks, Lino and four others were arrested, including Palomar, who authorities say was the mastermind, in Mexico.
Lino is the final remaining defendant from the case. Earlier this year, Palomar, 20, of Lake in the Hills, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16½ years in prison for the kidnapping and three other felonies he committed while free on bond.
Kassandra Delgado, 23, and Ruby M. Gomez, 22, both of Elgin, were sentenced to nine and 10 years in prison, respectively. Gino A. Moraca, 26. of Elgin, was sentenced to two years in prison and has completed his term. His received a reduced sentence for agreeing to testify in the case.
In their motion to increase or revoke bond for Lino, prosecutors argue she traveled to Florida on Jan. 16 without permission from the court. As part of her bond, Lino was to have no new criminal arrests, only leave her house for work and a few select other reasons, and get permission from a judge to leave the state.
A judge is set to hear arguments on a bond increase, as well as Lino's motion to suppress her statements to police, on Aug. 28. Lino's defense attorney Tim Mahoney has argued she did not give her statements to police voluntarily.
A judge in summer 2017 increased Lino's bail from $150,000 to $200,000 after prosecutors argued she left her home three times for unauthorized reasons.
Lino has posted 10 percent of the $200,000 bail and has been released while the charges are pending; if convicted of the most severe charges, Lino faces a punishment of six to 30 years in prison.