Latest news with #PeoriaHighSchool
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teenager indicted on racketeering charges related to violent Peoria street gang
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult on racketeering charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a violent street gang tied to a series of crimes over the past two years. Skylar Jordan was indicted Tuesday on charges of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act – better known as RICO – due to his alleged connections to the "Snakes," a street gang charged with setting off a series of violent crimes that led to three separate homicides and 12 shootings across the Peoria area over the past three years. More: Chilling court details show 'terror' linked to violent Peoria street gang According to the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office, Jordan was one of six juveniles to be charged with RICO in October following an investigation into the gang's alleged actions. Petitions had been filed to transfer their cases to adult court, with a Peoria County Circuit judge approving Jordan's transfer earlier this month. Prosecutors claim that Jordan and other members of the gang were involved in the deaths of people such as MikeQuese Taylor, a former Peoria High School basketball player killed in April 2024 while washing a car in his driveway in the 100 block of East Forrest Hill Avenue; Antonio Walker, who died one month after an August 2023 shooting in which multiple people fired at people riding bikes, a group that included Walker; and James Irby, killed in the 1800 block of South Stanley Street one month later. In addition, they are also connected to a post-prom shooting from May 2024 in Chillicothe, where 18-year-old Devon Mackey was hospitalized after being hit multiple times. Taylor and Mackey were supposedly members of a rival gang known as the "Jump-Out Boys", who were feuding with the "Snakes" during the crime spree. The Peoria Police Department and Peoria County Sheriff's Office were able to recover 18 guns over the course of their investigation, with four of those guns equipped with a switch that can convert them into a semi-automatic weapon. Jordan was also indicted on charges of unlawful use of a weapon Tuesday in relation to the gang activity. Arraignment is set for May 29 at 9:30 a.m., with Circuit Judge Katherine Gorman presiding over the proceedings. More: 'Special kid': Slain former Peoria High basketball player remembered as hard working, supportive This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Teenager to be tried as an adult on racketeering charges tied to gang
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Judge increases bond for 'Mr. ORNG' after new child sex crime charges added
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge raised the bond amount of a Phoenix Suns superfan who wore orange face paint and attire at basketball games before he was arrested on suspicion of soliciting teenage students for sexually explicit pictures and videos after he was indicted on additional charges. A grand jury indicted 38-year-old Patrick Battillo in February on seven counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor involving five victims between July 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024. Peoria police arrested Battillo, a boys basketball coach at Peoria High School who also went by the moniker "Mr. ORNG" at Suns games, in April 2024, after students reported that he had asked them to send him images and videos of them performing various sex acts in exchange for money, according to court documents. Battillo was booked into jail on a $100,000 secured-appearance bond, which he eventually posted with the help of a bail bond company, according to court documents. Court documents said Battillo had since been couch surfing with friends who didn't have children since he first posted bail. His attorney previously requested that Battillo's release conditions be modified to allow him to live with his sister and her three children who ranged from 11 to 17 in age. Prosecutors objected to the motion, citing the allegations against Battillo and a lack of evidence that he wouldn't be a danger to his sister's children. A judge ultimately denied the motion. One of the victims' mothers spoke at Monday's hearing opposing Battillo's continued freedom. "As I search for the right words to express the depth of our frustration and heartbreak, I find myself at a loss," the mother said. "Speaking not only as a parent, but on behalf of my child and the other victims affected by this tragedy, I must say we are deeply disappointed in how this case has been handled by law enforcement, the State (and) everyone responsible for ensuring justice is heard." The woman said that, while she might not understand the legal minutia involved in court proceedings, she could recognize injustice and that seeing Battillo walk freely while she explained to her child who had lost faith in themselves that they had done nothing wrong was a prime example. Deputy County Attorney Jonathan Taylor asked Judge Michael Kemp that Battillo's $100,000 secured-appearance bond be changed to cash-only, meaning Battillo wouldn't be able to use his assets as collateral and would instead have to pay the entire bond in cash. Taylor said Battillo solicited boys between the ages of 15 and 17 for sexually explicit recordings through Snapchat — a social media platform that deletes messages after they are read — while using his trusted position as a high school basketball coach. "At this point, we are going to negotiate a plea," Taylor said. "But if negotiations do fall through, there may be a third indictment based on what's described." Battillo's attorney, Dakota Johnson, asked that his client's bond remain as a $100,000 secured-appearance bond, highlighting that Battillo had attended every court hearing on time and had zero slip-ups while equipped with an ankle monitor. Johnson argued Battillo's current bond was already high and increasing it or making it cash-only wasn't necessary to ensure his client would continue returning to court. "Mr. Battillo used every last dollar to post this bond," Johnson said. "While he has been out, he's been going through medical treatment for the cancer diagnosis he got and he has put money into that as well. He doesn't have any more money." Johnson added that, when his client's original bond was set during his initial appearance in 2024, Battillo faced a child sex trafficking charge which threatened a much higher prison term. Johnson confirmed that the bail bond company Battillo used provided an affidavit that his $100,000 bond could be transferred to the new case. Kemp acknowledged that Battillo had appeared at every hearing on time and hadn't violated his release conditions but disagreed that his bond should remain unchanged. "I do think there has been a change in circumstances," Kemp said. "There are now five victims instead of two in the indictment. There are now seven charges instead of four, which ups the ante. I do think there is a paramount concern with regard to the safety of the community." Kemp said he wouldn't make Battillo's bond cash-only, but he instead increased the secured-appearance bond to $200,000. Battillo was handcuffed shortly after Kemp's ruling as he was remanded back to the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Kristopher Babros, a department spokesperson, said after the arrest, police were told about an investigation into Battillo on the morning of April 9, 2024, after school administrators contacted the school resource officer. Babros said officers arrested Battillo without incident in Goodyear and booked him into jail on suspicion of several felony charges, including luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking. A grand jury later indicted Battillo on four counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. Court documents stated that Battillo approached a 16-year-old boy and asked him to send pictures and video of him performing sex acts on himself and his girlfriend, who was also a minor. Documents said Battillo told the boy that he sold similar child sexual abuse images to an unknown woman, though the boy later suspected the woman didn't exist and was actually Battillo. The boy confirmed his suspicions when he messaged a Snapchat account Battillo shared, claiming it was the woman's account, and saw Battillo check his phone during a basketball game and start typing and then saw the suspected woman begin typing a response to the boy, documents stated. Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge increases bond for 'Mr. ORNG' after new charges added
