Law & Order column: Man guilty in hit-and-run pedestrian death

Chicago Tribune

27-06-2025

An Arlington Heights man has pleaded guilty to a charge related to the 2022 hit-and-run death of a pedestrian in Lake Zurich, according to Lake County prosecutors and court records.
Gary Bozza, 68, pleaded guilty to a felony count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash in a negotiated plea with Lake County prosecutors.
Authorities said Bozza struck and killed a man named Jose Portillo at 11:43 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2022, along South Rand Road. Police had responded to the 700 block after receiving reports of someone walking in the roadway. An officer arrived and saw a dark SUV strike the man later identified as Portillo.
Portillo, who was in his late 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
After an investigation by authorities, a Lake County grand jury indicted Bozza in January of 2024.
Under the terms of the sentence, Bozza was placed on probation for 30 months and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, according to court records. He was also ordered to pay about $3,000 in fines and costs.
In return for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped the more serious charge of failure to report a crash involving death.
Holiday patrols
It seems like the Fourth of July has arrived suddenly. Lots of folks will probably be on the road since the holiday is creating a three-day weekend, and local police departments are alerting motorists that there will be a visible law enforcement presence.
Many local departments have announced that they will be increasing enforcement over the holiday period. Waukegan police have stepped up enforcement for things like impaired and unbelted motorists, a campaign that will extend through the holiday weekend.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office, and police in Gurnee and Mundelein are among other agencies across the county and state that are participating. So, as the saying goes, drive sober or get pulled over.
Meanwhile, Waukegan and Gurnee police, along with their counterparts in Lake Villa and Lindenhurst, will participate in a regional safety initiative effort on Tuesday that is centered on the Illinois Route 132/Grand Avenue corridor.
'Drivers traveling along Route 132 can expect increased police presence and high visibility enforcement throughout the day. But the ultimate goal isn't writing tickets. It is to change behavior, reduce crashes, and save lives,' Waukegan police said in a social media post.
Underage alcohol sales
Local police agencies recently completed a spring sweep of area businesses that sell alcohol to ensure they are not selling to underage customers.
The Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force said it worked with nine police departments. Young adults carrying identification that showed they were younger than 21 entered 159 establishments to attempt to buy liquor. The underage buyers were turned away at most businesses, though there were eight violations reported. In North Chicago, police noted four violations at the 10 businesses checked.
'Consistency from community to community and monitoring underage drinking issues will help us be successful in addressing this problem and saving lives,' Task Force Chairman Steve Husak said. 'Our desire is to see 100% compliance, but it is refreshing to see that nearly 95% of the businesses that were checked realize the seriousness of this issue and did not sell alcohol to the underage participants.'
No violations were reported at the 102 establishments that were checked in Antioch, Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Lake Forest and Lake Zurich.
Knife threat charge
A man with a previous conviction for stabbing a roommate was arrested this month on charges that he threatened three people with a knife, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Joshua W. Marksberry was taken into custody Wednesday night following an incident earlier that day at a home in the 15900 block of West Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth.
The sheriff's office said it was called at about 9:40 a.m. after witnesses reported that Marksberry, who lives at the address, had pulled a knife on a victim and threatened them and another resident of the property.
Marksberry fled on foot, police said, and a man matching his description was seen at about 8:30 p.m. near Wadsworth and Dilleys Road. Police located Marksberry in a tent in a nearby wooded area, and he was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault.
According to court records, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2018 for aggravated battery.