Latest news with #WilliamWolf
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dixon man accused of attempted murder still wants trial moved out of Ogle County
May 31—OREGON — A private attorney representing a rural Dixon man charged with the attempted murder of three police officers said he will be pursuing a motion made by a former Ogle County public defender to hold the trial outside the county. Jonathon Gounaris, 33, is charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of possession of a firearm without a firearm owner's identification card — all of which stem from a June 12 standoff with police in the rural Dixon subdivision of Lost Lake. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held in the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford. Originally, Gounaris was represented by former Assistant Public Defender William Gibbs, who left the office in August. Then, the case was taken over by Assistant Public Defender Michael O'Brien, who left the office in mid-April. Gounaris is now represented by attorney William Wolf of Wolf Criminal Law, based in Chicago. Gounaris appeared before Ogle County Judge John "Ben" Roe on Friday along with Wolf and attorney Jack DeBacker of Wolf Criminal Law. Wolf told Roe that he plans to pursue O'Brien's March 6 motion to appoint an expert but needs to amend it and expand on it. The motion filed by O'Brien asks Roe to "appoint an expert and/or reimburse defense costs to assist in presenting a change-of-venue request," according to the motion. A change-of-venue motion typically asks the judge to move the trial to a different location. Those motions usually cite reasons that the filing party believes would prevent a fair trial in the county in which the case was filed. Pretrial publicity often is listed as a reason for a change-of-venue motion. In O'Brien's motion, he argued that the court should allow and pay for a company to "explore the likelihood that this case should be tried" in a different county because there exists "prejudice against" Gounaris, and he cannot receive a fair trial in Ogle County. Wolf also asked for additional time to review the large amount of discovery, with no objection from the state. Assistant State's Attorney Heather Kruse asked for Gounaris' continued detention, and Wolf had no objection. Gounaris has been denied pretrial release as far back as his initial detention hearing June 20. O'Brien made extensive arguments supporting Gounaris' release at a hearing March 17, when he called the June standoff a "paradox of the welfare check." [ Dixon man charged with attempted murder of three police officers seeks release for mental health treatment ] The state disagrees and has continued to argue for detention since that initial June 20 hearing. Kruse said March 17 that police had found Gounaris to be wearing ballistic body armor while armed with two handguns, pepper spray and a knife. On Friday, Roe again ruled to keep Gounaris detained. Gounaris is charged with shooting three members of the Ogle County Sheriff's Office Emergency Response Team after a three-hour standoff when police tried to enter his home at 402 Wild Rice Lane in Lost Lake. [ Sheriff: Rural Dixon resident shoots 3 deputies after barricading himself in home at Lost Lake ] The ERT is made up of individuals from agencies including the sheriff's office, Oregon and Byron police departments, and SWAT medics from the Rochelle Fire Department. Gounaris' next hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. July 17.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consolidated Credit and Nova Southeastern University Collaborate on Academic Study Published in JABE
Study Explores the Connection Between Credit Card Usage and Consumer Characteristics FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / / April 18, 2025 / Learning How Credit Works Puts You in Control Consolidated Credit is pleased to announce that April Lewis-Parks, Director of Education and Corporate Communications, and William Wolf, Director of Strategic Partnerships, have coauthored an important research paper with Dr. Albert Williams from Nova Southeastern University. The article, titled "Is Credit Card Usage for Entertainment Related to Demographic, Psychological, and Financial Characteristics of Credit Card Owners?", has been published in the Journal of Academy of Business and Economics(JABE). JABE is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the International Academy of Business and Economics, aimed at promoting cutting-edge research that connects theory with practical applications in global business and economics. The study is featured in Volume 25, Issue 1 (page 107) and investigates the connection between entertainment-related credit card usage and several consumer factors, such as age, income, personality traits, and financial behavior. The results offer valuable insights into how credit cards are used for non-essential spending, providing important perspectives amid rising consumer debt and shifting economic landscapes. "This research is an extension of our mission at Consolidated Credit: to understand the financial behaviors that shape people's lives and help create solutions," said April Lewis-Parks. "Working with Dr. Williams and William Wolf on this academic study was a great opportunity to share our field experience with a global scholarly audience." "Credit card debt related to non-essential purchases is an often-overlooked driver of financial instability," added William Wolf. "By examining the factors influencing this behavior, we can better develop educational tools and interventions that resonate with real-life consumers." Dr. Albert Williams, professor of finance and economics at Nova Southeastern University, noted the collaboration as a successful example of academic and nonprofit synergy. "We were able to combine rigorous methodology with real-world experience from Consolidated Credit to gain new insights into how consumer behavior intersects with credit usage. This kind of research can inform both financial education and public policy." The article contributes to a growing body of literature that emphasizes the importance of financial psychology in understanding consumer debt. It is also timely, given recent national trends indicating that Americans are increasingly turning to credit cards for entertainment and lifestyle expenses-even as interest rates and debt levels rise. The full article is available through JABE's current issue: For more information about Consolidated Credit's financial education initiatives or to schedule interviews with the authors, please contact: Jill Randolph JRandolph@ About Consolidated Credit Consolidated Credit is a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 10 million people overcome debt and achieve financial freedom through education, counseling, and debt management programs. For over 30 years, the organization has been a trusted resource for financial wellness nationwide. About NovaSoutheastern University Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is the largest private research university in Florida and a top employer in the state, with more than $5 billion in projected economic impact. NSU is classified as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Foundation among universities with the highest level of research activity. NSU educates more than 22,000 enrolled students from more than 115 countries and all 50 U.S. states. NSU is a Military Friendly School, committed to meeting the needs of its active military and veteran population. It is 1 of 4 universities in the U.S. with both M.D. and D.O. colleges and is the largest educator of physicians in Florida. Research at NSU addresses such critical areas as cancer, marine life, and brain health. Contact Details Jill Randolph jrandolph@ Company Website SOURCE: Consolidated Credit View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
