Court briefs: Hammond teen gets 6 years in prison for robbery, beating cases
A Hammond teen got an eight-year split term Tuesday for two criminal cases.
Kadar Williams, 18, admitted in a plea deal that he robbed a pizza guy with friends in January 2023, then helped another friend beat a kid with a bed frame in a separate incident a year later. He faced up to eight years.
Williams' mother said in court he 'must assume full responsibility,' but 'time in self-awareness' could be done without prison.
Deputy Prosecutor Chris Bruno said the teen jumped right into the 'deep end of the criminal pool.'
He asked for eight years, with six in prison and two in work release.
Defense lawyer Matt LaTulip admitted his client went from '0-60.' Williams was just a kid with a 'misplaced sense of loyalty,' he said. He asked for two years in prison and four 'or less' in Lake County Community Corrections.
'I have made some bad decisions,' Williams said in court, adding he wanted to go to trade school.
Judge Samuel Cappas said 'on paper, you look like you deserve 25 years.'
He sentenced him to six years in prison and two on work release.
In the latter incident, court filings note a group lured the kid to a home, then held a knife to his throat, leading him to a backyard where he was severely beaten. The victim admitted he stole part of a 'blunt' from the group the day before.
East Chicago man gets time served for shooting man in leg
An East Chicago man got time served Tuesday for shooting a man in the leg who had issues with his mother.
Jimmy Hagan, 29, pleaded guilty June 10 to battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony.
Deputy Prosecutor Veronica Gonzalez said there were 'unforeseen' problems when they took depositions.
Defense lawyer Angela Jones said Hagan was misguided, trying to be 'chivalrous' and protect his mother's feelings.
Hagan said he was 'ready to put this matter behind me.'
The shooting happened Nov. 4, 2019, on the 200 block of Highland Street in Hammond, court documents state.
Accomplice receives probation in Hammond double homicide
An accomplice got probation Tuesday in a Hammond double homicide.
Javier Galvan, 30, pleaded guilty in May 2022 to assisting a criminal.
He was sentenced to six years with 3 ½ years already served. He would still need to serve 2 ½ years on probation.
Deputy Prosecutor Maureen Koonce said Galvan cooperated with authorities and helped them understand, as much as possible, what happened.
Defense lawyer Michael Campbell said with 'a lot of shots' fired around him, Galvan was left in a very 'difficult' position. He took the guns.
Hammond Police were called at 3:35 a.m. Oct. 7, 2021, to the 700 block of Locust Street where a man shot in the head was slumped over in the passenger seat of a tan Honda Civic. The car had been hit by bullets multiple times.
A second man was dead in the front yard after he was shot multiple times in the chest and stomach, according to the affidavit. Witnesses said they heard 20-30 shots.
The man in the car was identified as Deandre Easter, 27, of Calumet City, while the man in the yard was Danniel Gamez, 26, of East Chicago. Gamez had cash in his right hand.
Police believed co-defendant Jorge Garza thought Gamez was an easy mark to rob for a gun, charges state. Both intended to rob each other, according to the affidavit.
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