Latest news with #State'sAttorney'sOffice
Chicago Tribune
17-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
St. Charles man charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography, per officials
A St. Charles man has been charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office and Kane County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Thursday. Corey J. McDonald, 29, of St. Charles was arrested at his residence on Monday, the news release said, following an investigation by the Kane County Child Exploitation Unit, an initiative the State's Attorney's Office and Kane County Sheriff's Office started in 2022 aiming to keep children in the state safe from sexual exploitation. This investigation began as a result of a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. State's Attorney Jamie Mosser is alleging that, in January, McDonald disseminated multiple images containing child sexual abuse material to a chat group on Kik, an instant messaging platform, the release said. Mosser is also alleging that McDonald violated the Sex Offender Registration Act. According to Kane County court records, McDonald was convicted on child pornography-related charges in 2019. The complaint accuses McDonald of failing to notify the St. Charles Police Department that he was using the instant messaging identity, leading to the charge of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act. McDonald is being charged with eight counts of possessing child pornography, eight counts of disseminating child pornography and two counts of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act, according to the news release. He is being detained in the Kane County jail while he awaits his pretrial hearing, the release noted, with his next court appearance set for July 24.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Four charged in CT takeover involving dangerous car stunts and fire in supermarket parking lot
Four people have been charged in connection with a large street takeover last month in Fairfield involving dangerous car stunts and a fire that was ignited in the parking lot of a supermarket. The takeover was reported on May 2 just before 11 p.m. when officers responded to the Stop & Shop at 760 Villa Ave. on the report of a large group of drivers performing donuts, burnouts and fishtails in the lot, according to the Fairfield Police Department. Just before officers arrived, police said a portion of the asphalt was set on fire which created a hazard toward the drivers and a number of individuals who were standing nearby and filming the incident. The participants scattered as officers showed up, which police said is one of the most dangerous points in a takeover when drivers tend to speed off, putting themselves, police and the public at risk. Because of this, police said they took a calculated approach that prioritized safety and evidence collection. The police department established its own task force to investigate the takeover and track down the individuals who were most culpable. The task force included some of the officers who responded to the scene and was assisted by the State's Attorney's Office. While carrying out the search warrants, which took place in areas outside of Fairfield, police said the mother of one of the suspects interfered with police in East Windsor. She has been identified as Wanda Romero. According to police, investigators used progressive police tactics that included reviewing dashboard camera footage, monitoring social media and collaborative efforts with other law enforcement agencies. Police said they obtained search and seizure warrants for a number of vehicles that were involved in the takeover, which were identified through videos shared on social media. Police seized a number of vehicles during the investigation, including a blue Dodge Charger Daytona registered to David Romero of East Windsor, a GMC Sierra pickup truck belonging to Christopher McGirl of Wallingford and a white Ford Mustang GT owned by Dilmar Ruano-Barrera of Stamford. The vehicles remain in police custody as evidence in the criminal proceedings. David Romero, 20, faces charges of illegal racing on a highway, conspiracy to commit illegal racing on a highway, first-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace, second-degree riot, unlawful assembly, reckless driving, failure to display plates, operation causing unnecessary noise and unsafe movement of a stopped vehicle. He was held on $75,000 bond and was expected to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Friday. His mother, Wanda Romero, 49, has been charged with tampering with physical evidence and interfering with police. She was held on a $25,000 bond and was also expected to face a judge on Friday. Ruano-Barrera, 26, faces charges of illegal racing on a highway, conspiracy to commit illegal racing on a highway, first-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace, second-degree riot, unlawful assembly, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle creating unnecessary noise and unsafe movement from a stopped position. He was held on a $50,000 bond and was set to appear in court on Friday. McGirl, 20, was charged with illegal racing on a highway. He was held on a $10,000 bond and was expected to face a judge on Friday.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Danville man sentenced to 9 years for 2023 armed robbery
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A Danville man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for an armed robbery that happened in October of 2023. Court records show KeShawn Stapleton, 23, was facing five felony counts for crimes including armed robbery and mob action and a misdemeanor count of obstructing identification. On Monday, he reached a plea deal with prosecutors that saw him plead guilty to a Class 1 felony count of armed robbery; the other counts were dismissed. Acquitted, accused again, convicted: Champaign man found guilty of murder Evidence presented in court showed that on Oct. 26, 2023, Stapleton was one of five Black males who approached a person walking to a trash dumpster near Lewis Street. The group held the victim at gunpoint and stole his backpack, which had an Xbox inside, his cell phone and the shoes off the victim's feet. The crime was recorded by a security camera. As detectives were speaking with the victim, Danville Police received a call about robbery suspects running toward Moore Street. When officers responded to the area, they saw several Black males exiting a car on Moore Street. Stapleton was arrested during this police encounter. The State's Attorney's Office said Moore was identified as one of the perpetrators based on his clothes; what he was wearing when he was arrested matched the clothes of the suspect who was recorded on camera taking the robbery victim's shoes from his feet. The shoes and the victim's cell phone were subsequently found inside the vehicle Stapleton exited on Moore Street. Sangamon, Menard Co. Crime Stoppers seeking tips in theft at Springfield church 'I commend the Danville Police Department for quickly identifying and apprehending these violent offenders. We are grateful to the victim for coming forward,' State's Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said in a news release. 'Armed robbery is a dangerous crime that threatens the safety of our entire community. My office remains committed to working with the police to pursue justice and protect victims of violent crime.' Stapleton was given credit for 592 days he's already served in custody, and his sentence will be served at 50%. Once out of prison, he will spend one year on parole. Two other people have been charged in connection to the robbery. Alvin Daniels, charged with the same five felony counts as Stapleton, pleaded guilty in February to one of them and was sentenced to five years in prison. Another person, who is a juvenile, has been charged, but the State's Attorney's Office did not go into further detail. The investigation into the robbery is still ongoing, and people with relevant information are asked to contact law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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."
