Latest news with #State'sAttorney'sOffice
Chicago Tribune
28-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Nearly 3 times over the DUI limit, man who killed Naperville bicyclist get 10-year sentence
A driver nearly three times over the legal intoxication limit when he struck and killed a Naperville bicyclist in Woodridge was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison. Salil Chander, 35, of Woodridge, was drunk when he left his home in the 4100 block of Nelson Court about 5 p.m. Aug. 6, 2023, according to a DuPage County State's Attorney's Office news release. He drove into a light pole on Nelson Court and then headed westbound on Green Trails Drive, where he veered into the eastbound lanes and struck 64-year-old Michael Norton as he was riding his bike, the release said. An eyewitness called 911 after seeing the incident and Chander leaving the scene. Woodridge police arrested him about a third of a mile away at Green Trails Drive and Ridgewood Road, the release said. Chander's blood alcohol content was later found to be 0.222. The legal driving limit is 0.08 or less. Chander pleaded Monday guilty but mentally ill to one count of aggravated driving under the influence resulting in the death of another person, a class 2 felony. DuPage County Judge Joseph Bugos handed down the sentence. Chander had been held at the DuPage County jail in lieu of $1 million bond until October 2024, when the state's Pre-Trial Fairness Act went into effect and he was granted pre-trial release. 'With a BAC of nearly three times the legal limit, Mr. Chander had no business behind the wheel of a car,' State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. 'The sad truth is, like all drunk driving fatalities, the tragic death of an innocent person was completely avoidable had Mr. Chander simply not operated a vehicle after he had been drinking.' Under state law, Chander will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mt. Morris man accused in fatal shooting makes first court appearance
Apr. 23—OREGON — A Mt. Morris man charged with the shooting death of a 25-year-old Monday at an apartment in Mt. Morris made his first appearance Wednesday afternoon in a packed courtroom at the Ogle County Judicial Center. Derek Swanlund, 44, is charged with the first-degree murder of Cameron Pasley, 25, also of Mt. Morris. Three counts of the Class M felony charges were filed by the Ogle County State's Attorney's Office earlier in the day. He is charged with intending to "kill or do great bodily harm" to Pasley whom investigators say he shot during what they described as a "domestic incident." The charges accuse Swanlund of shooting Pasley without legal justification knowing that "such acts" would cause Pasley's death. Swanlund also is charged with the misdemeanor offense of using a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun without having his Firearm Owner's Identification card in his possession. Pasley was shot several times at his residence in Mt. Morris and was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon, the Ogle County Sheriff's Office said in a news release late Monday. According to the release, officers were notified about 5 p.m. Monday, April 21, of a shooting at 1 S. Ogle Ave., Apt. 13 ,and when officers arrived they found Pasley with "multiple gun shot wounds." According to the release, Swanlund was found a short distance from the scene and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Ogle County Jail in Oregon. On Wednesday, Swanlund was escorted from the jail into Judge Anthony Peska's courtroom by sheriff's deputies for the 1 p.m. hearing, wearing shackles and dressed in an orange jumpsuit issued to inmates. Peska said he had reviewed the charging documents and ruled that probable cause existed to hold Swanlund on the charges. Peska appointed Assistant Ogle County Public Defender Eric Morrow as Swanlund's attorney. Morrow said he had received a "voluminous" amount of charging information from the state's attorney's office and requested more time to meet with Swanlund and review the discovery information. Discovery is a pretrial process where prosecutors and defense attorneys exchange information and evidence relevant to the case to ensure all parties have access to necessary information before the case goes to trial. "I need time to review all the documents," Morrow said, adding that he had not yet had a "meaningful discussion" with Swandlund. Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Leisten did not object to the continuance. Peska set the next hearing for 1 p.m. Friday, April 25. Pasley was a 2018 graduate of Oregon High School and a full-time custodian for the school district. On Tuesday, the Oregon School District issued a statement about Pasley saying the "OCUSD family experienced a heartbreaking loss." "Cameron will be remembered for his easygoing personality, his ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone, and the calming presence he brought into every room. He had a bright future ahead of him and was someone who made even stressful situations feel manageable," the statement read. Oregon Superintendent of Schools PJ Caposey told Shaw Local News Network that Pasley was the night custodian at the Blackhawk Center, where the school's physical education classes and competition basketball and volleyball games are held, and had recently moved to days. At the start of the Oregon School Board meeting Tuesday, board President Bryan Wills asked for "a moment of silence for Cameron." On Tuesday night, a vigil for Pasley was held for his family and friends at Dillehay Park in Mt. Morris. About 20 people attended Wednesday's court hearing, filling a portion of the courtroom's gallery. A Go Fund Me fundraiser has been organized by Pasley's sister Karley McGuire. It, in part, reads: "Cameron was taken from me and my mom too early and very harshly. Cameron was such a sweetheart and was loved by many. He had finally gotten an apartment, gotten a car, and was getting it all together. He finally was going somewhere, and it was all taken away so quickly. My family is trying our best to grieve in this difficult time, and we appreciate all the love. We appreciate everything and all the love. Thank you for loving him, and he loved so many."
Chicago Tribune
12-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
No Kane County deputies will be charged after fatal 2023 shooting of Aurora man following police chase
Nearly two years after the officer-involved shooting that left James Moriarty of Aurora dead and also killed police dog Hudson, Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser announced Friday that no Kane County deputies will be charged in connection with the incident. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office on Friday also released available body camera and dash camera footage from the shooting, which is available on YouTube: On May 24, 2023, Moriarty, 38, allegedly carjacked a Honda Accord at a Jiffy Lube in Aurora around 1:57 p.m., according to past reporting. After deputies spotted the vehicle using license plate readers, police initiated a pursuit that ultimately ended when the car being driven by Moriarty was stopped at Randall Road and Fabyan Parkway on the border of Geneva and Batavia. Soon after, Moriarty exited from the backseat driver's side door, Mosser said, with his right hand to his side. She said that as he moved to the back of the car, 'a gun can be seen in his right hand pointing down on the video.' Moriarty did not comply with multiple commands to put his hands up or drop the apparent weapon in his hand after he exited the car, Mosser said. She said that the object in Moriarty's hand was later found to be an airsoft gun, but that the deputies involved would not have known that at the time. According to a press release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, Moriarty, while still holding the apparent weapon, went towards civilians and law enforcement. A deputy fired several shots, and the police dog, Hudson, was deployed on Moriarty, Mosser said. Deputies fired several more shots while Moriarty was upright, and a number more while he was on the ground. Both Moriarty and the police dog died during the shootout, according to past reporting. According to the press release from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, Moriarty had seven encounters with Aurora police in the month leading up to his death and there were several warrants out for his arrest. There were also warnings in LEADS, the statewide Law Enforcement Agency Data System, that Moriarty should be considered armed and dangerous and that he resisted and obstructed law enforcement, Friday's release detailed. The decision not to pursue criminal charges against the involved officers comes after an investigation by the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force and a review by independent consultant Force Science, which reviews police use-of-force incidents, the release on Friday said. The involved officers were Kane County Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Widlarz, Deputy Eric Gustafson, Deputy Alan Garcia and Deputy Luke Weston with police dog Hudson. In total, 18 shots were fired in a span of seven seconds during the incident, Mosser said on Friday. Four of those were fired by Gustafson, one by Garcia and 13 by Widlarz, she said. Mosser confirmed Friday that one of those shots, fired by Garcia, unintentionally killed the police dog. Moriarty never fired the airsoft gun, she said. Moriarty's body had 17 gunshot wounds, Mosser said, per findings from the Kane County Coroner's Office, and the cause of his death was found to be multiple gunshot wounds. According to a toxicology report, there was cocaine present in Moriarty's system when he died, she noted. Mosser's office determined that none of the officers should be charged with using deadly force given the reasonable belief that the force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others. She noted that five of the 13 shots by Widlarz were fired while Moriarty was upright, while the last eight were fired after he was on the ground – she said whether the last round of shots was justified was 'not easy to determine,' and required consulting from Force Science – but they were ultimately ruled justifiable. Hain said it was a 'testament to their capabilities' that the officers were able to prevent any threats to civilian safety, given that the shooting happened in the afternoon on a Wednesday. The three officers who exerted deadly force – Gustafson, Garcia and Widlarz – have been cleared following the investigation, and Mosser's review is now considered closed. Weston had been at a training and thus was not in uniform that day, Mosser said, but he joined the pursuit because he had his police dog, Hudson, with him. Because he was at training, Mosser said there was 'no expectation' that Weston would have had his body camera on him at the time. Last September, the shooting generated further public attention after Hain made comments criticizing a lack of communication between Aurora police and his deputies, according to past reporting. He made the comments at a memorial for the police dog who was killed during the incident. Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin then held a press conference at which he defended the Aurora police and said that Hain turned the memorial into 'a platform' for himself. Mosser later released a statement saying she had been unaware of the comments Hain would make at the memorial. While the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Moriarty will not be charged, Mosser's investigation did find that Widlarz had violated state statute and the Kane County Sheriff's policy on body worn cameras. Widlarz had turned off the audio of his body camera after turning off the audio on his squad car's dash camera, Mosser said. He also did not turn his body camera's audio back on when he exited his car after the pursuit was over, she said. Finally, he had placed his body camera on his shoulder, rather than in the center of his chest. 'It is clear that it is not recording the public, but rather the sky,' Mosser said on Friday. Hain said that Widlarz's shorter stature impacted the way he had to affix his body camera, and that it typically points upward slightly. Mosser's office ultimately concluded, however, that there was not enough evidence to charge Widlarz with law enforcement misconduct because there was no evidence that Widlarz had turned off his camera or failed to turn it back on in order to 'obstruct the prosecution, defense or apprehension' of any person, she said on Friday. 'This failure during the entirety of this law enforcement encounter erodes public trust in his performance as a deputy here at the Kane County Sheriff's Office,' Mosser said about Widlarz, later calling the decision to turn off his audio 'inexcusable.' Widlarz declined to provide a statement for the investigation, Mosser said, and Hain said it was at the direction of Widlarz's legal representation. Mosser said they could not release information on whether Widlarz was still part of the department.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Woman sentenced in Springfield battery case; murder conspiracy charge dropped
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A New York woman accused of traveling to Springfield to kill her father pleaded guilty to two charges in a different case against her. Emily Getman, 21, was in court Thursday morning for what was scheduled as a preliminary hearing in two cases against her. She was charged in one with conspiracy to commit murder. In the other, she was charged with aggravated battery and criminal damage to property. Springfield Police investigate store burglary, call for tips through Crime Stoppers During her appearance, Getman reached a plea deal with prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to the aggravated battery and criminal damage charges, while the conspiracy charge was dismissed. In accordance with the negotiations between Getman's counsel and the State's Attorney's Office, Judge John Madonia sentenced Getman to 24 months of probation, which will be served in New York. In addition, she has to pay restitution for the damage and write an apology letter to the battery victim. Getman's co-defendant, Dylan Romer, was also scheduled to be in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. Sangamon County court records have not yet been updated to reflect his appearance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
19-03-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore man sentenced to 48 years for altering evidence in 2020 attempted murder
A Baltimore man was sentenced to 48 years in prison Tuesday after altering evidence in an attempted murder, according to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. Court documents show in January 2020, Jimmy Murphy, 30, and his co-conspirator Cornelius Bruce tried to get revenge against Christopher Brown for the murder of Cordelle Bruce , Cornelius' brother. Murphy and Cornelius drove a rented F-150 to the 1000 block of Reverdy Road where they found Christopher Brown and began to open fire, according to court documents. During the shooting, a bullet meant for Brown hit and killed Cornelius. Court documents show that in an attempt to cover up his actions, Murphy drove the rented pickup to an abandoned field at 2801 Saint Lo Drive and set the truck on fire with Cornelius' body inside. Baltimore City Firefighters responded to the scene where they found the truck on fire, according to the State's Attorney's Office. After they extinguished the fire, crews found Cornelius' body inside the vehicle. Before setting the fire, Murphy was captured on video filing up a red gas can at a gas station blocks away from the scene, according to court documents. The medical examiner determined that Cornelius died from a single gunshot wound. Officials were unable to determine if he could have been saved if Murphy attempted to call for help rather than trying to dispose of evidence, the State's Attorney's Office said. Christopher Brown, 24, and co-conspirator Darran Horton, 25, were charged with the murder of Cornelius' brother, Cordelle, which occurred a week before Cornelius died. According to court records, Brown and Horton had a dispute with Cordelle over a botched marijuana deal. During their trial, prosecutors said "Brown, Horton, and another individual hunted Cordelle Bruce down" and fatally shot him. Brown and Horton were convicted in September 2022 and are currently serving their sentences, according to the State's Attorney's Office. During Murphy's trial, prosecutors argued that his disregard for the value of human life and his decision to seek revenge increased the tragedy experienced by the Bruce family. They further argued that an appropriate sentence would be one that deters others from seeking retaliation, which contributes to the cycle of violence in Baltimore, according to the State's Attorney.
