Man found guilty in fatal DUI

in

June 4

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a man was found guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol Wednesday, June 4 for striking and killing a woman who was crossing U.S. 30 in 2006.

Trenell Mance, 24, of Joliet, faces up to 14 years in prison when he is sentenced before Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak on Aug. 7.

Mance was driving a pickup truck westbound on U.S. 30 between 63 and 77 mph in a 30 mph zone when he struck and killed Nina Robinson on Nov. 26, 2006 in the 2300 block of U.S. 30.

Robinson had just left a local bar and was crossing the street on her way home. Mance’s blood-alcohol level tested at .09 after the collision.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniel Walsh and Michael Fitzgerald prosecuted the case. The jury deliberated for 90 minutes prior on Wednesday before finding Mance guilty.

James Glasgow named State’s Attorney of the Year by Illinois State Crime Commission

in

June 3

JOLIET — Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has been named State’s Attorney of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission and will be honored at the organization’s 12th Annual Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. June 11 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

It is the second time in his career as Will County’s top prosecutor that State’s Attorney Glasgow has received this prestigious honor from the Illinois State Crime Commission, the first time being in 1996.

In naming him State’s Attorney of the Year for 2008, the Crime Commission acknowledged Glasgow’s long and distinguished career, during which he has implemented groundbreaking initiatives to investigate, prosecute and prevent crime.

“Jim Glasgow is one of the premier state’s attorneys in Illinois,” said Jerry Elsner, executive director of the Illinois State Crime Commission. “He has championed innovative strategies to aggressively prosecute criminals to protect the community, and he has worked diligently to create prevention programs that educate citizens so they know how to protect themselves.”

Glasgow expressed his appreciation to the Illinois State Crime Commission for naming him State’s Attorney of the Year.

“I am deeply honored that the Illinois State Crime Commission has chosen to recognize the work my office has done on behalf of the citizens of Will County,” Glasgow said. “With the backing of my dedicated staff, we have accomplished a great deal to make this county a safer place to live and work.”

Among his accomplishments as Will County State’s Attorney, Glasgow:

  • Formed Will County’s first Gang Prosecution Unit in the early 1990s and helped to organize gang sweeps, one of which reduced local gang shootings by 250 percent and was featured on Peter Jennings’ World News Tonight.
  • Pioneered Will County’s first Specialized Domestic Violence Court, which mandated abuser counseling to break the destructive cycle of violence. In addition, his innovative Victim Independence Program has more than doubled appearances in court by victims of domestic abuse.
  • Established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center to stop child sexual predators in their tracks. The recorded statements from children have been used in the successful prosecution of literally hundreds of child predators over the past 13 years. 
  • Spearheaded the creation of the Will County Drug Court, which was selected as one of the top 10 programs in the nation. A remarkable 92 percent of the defendants who complete the program kick their addictions and remain drug-free.
  • Wrote the Animal Torture Statute, which created the first felony charge in Illinois for the abuse of animals.
  • Implemented a Bad Check Restitution Program that has collected more than $1 million for local businesses in just 2-1/2 years. 
  • Authored several Gang Awareness and Prevention books, one of which was called “the primary primer on gangs” by the Chicago Tribune. 
  • Established a Crime Prevention Division that travels the county to educate citizens about gang violence, financial scams that target senior citizens, Internet safety and drug abuse prevention. 
  • Created a Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit whose members will investigate and prosecute complex financial crimes, particularly those in which senior citizens are the victims.

Glasgow received his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois Law School. He has been practicing law since 1981. He and his wife, Gina, are the proud parents of five wonderful children: four sons and a daughter. They also are the happy owners of a Great Dane and a collie.

To obtain tickets or to receive more information about the Illinois State Crime Commission’s 12th Annual Awards Dinner, call (630) 778-9191

Peterson charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon in connection with rifle seized from his house

in

May 21

JOLIET – The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Illinois State Police announce that a charge of Unlawful Use of a Weapon has been filed against Drew Walter Peterson.

The charge alleges that the defendant “knowingly possessed a rifle, namely a Colt model Sporter Lightweight, 223 Remington rifle, Serial #SL025365 with attached EOTech electronic sight, with a barrel less than 16 inches in length” in violation of state law.

Peterson was arrested by Illinois State Police Wednesday morning in Bolingbrook without incident on a warrant signed by Chief Judge Stephen White. The warrant carried a bond of $75,000. Peterson must post 10 percent or $7,500 to secure his release while awaiting trial.

Unlawful Use of a Weapon is a Class 3 felony that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison upon conviction.

The rifle was one of the guns seized during the execution of a search warrant on Peterson’s house on Nov. 1, 2007. The length of the weapon’s barrel is in violation of state law. 

A court date for Peterson to appear on this weapons charge has yet to be scheduled. 

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Champions for Children Walk raises awareness about Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

in

May 20

JOLIET – Forty-five people participated in a 10-mile walk through Joliet on a windy but sunny Sunday (May 18) to raise awareness and funding for the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.

All money raised from the Champions for Children walk will be used to support the Children’s Advocacy Center, which was established in 1995 by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow to provide services for children who are the victims of sexual and physical abuse.

The not-for-profit center’s professionally trained staff interviews these young and vulnerable victims in a non-suggestive, non-threatening environment. Their recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of literally hundreds of sexual predators in Will, Grundy and Kendall counties over the past 13 years.

Participants kicked off the walk in front of the Will County Courthouse at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday and hiked 10 miles across Joliet’s East Side. State’s Attorney Glasgow, who also serves as president of the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Board, welcomed the crowd and thanked them for their support.

“It was great to see a large turnout for a walk that raises awareness about the center’s important work,” Glasgow said after the event. “The Children’s Advocacy Center plays a critical role in bringing sexual predators to justice while providing important counseling services to the victims of abuse.”

The Will County walk was one leg of a four-day statewide awareness and fundraising event sponsored by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois. The event began in Springfield on Friday, May 16 and arrived in Will County on Sunday, May 18. Walkers asked people for pledges of support with a minimum of $1 per mile.

Elected officials who cut the ribbon to kick off the Will County Champions for Children Walk were: State’s Attorney Glasgow; State Senator Linda Holmes, who sponsored a bill that allows counties to assess court fines on convicted defendants to fund child advocacy centers; Will County Executive Larry Walsh; Joliet Police Chief Fred Hayes; and Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire.

State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Bad Check Restitution Program collects more than $1 million on behalf of Will County businesses

in

May 6

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that his Bad Check Restitution Program has reached an important milestone by returning more than $1 million in revenues to Will County businesses.

The program, which State’s Attorney Glasgow enacted in 2005 shortly after he took office, has collected $1,053,097.85 and returned it to Will County businesses. This represents restitution collected on a total of 16,402 bad checks that were written for goods and services provided by local merchants and service providers over the past several years.

Through the program, restitution has been collected on behalf of Will County’s smallest local businesses as well as on behalf of some of the nation’s largest retailers that operate locally.

“The bad check restitution program has been incredibly successful for Will County businesses that have taken advantage of this free service coordinated through my office,” Glasgow said. “It’s important to note that this program isn’t only for large businesses. We’ve collected restitution on bad checks worth as little as few bucks for local mom and pop operations. Every dollar counts in today’s tight economy. I want to make certain that our local businesses continue to thrive.”

The state’s attorney recognized that local businesses have been losing thousands upon thousands of dollars each year as a result of bad checks. So in 2005, Glasgow contracted with the firm American Corrective Counseling Services to begin collection efforts on these checks.

The collection service is free to businesses. First a letter is sent to offenders asking them to repay their debts plus a fee, which covers the cost of the operation. In exchange for a full payment, the state’s attorney’s office agrees not to prosecute the offenders, who also are required to attend remediation classes at their own expense.

The program showed immediate results upon being implemented. In its first six months of operation, the state’s attorney’s office collected $133,540 in restitution. In 2006, the number rose to $418,401.58, and in 2007 the office recovered an additional $420,316.29. In the first two months of 2008, Glasgow’s office returned another $80,839.98.

“This is an outstanding program for businesses being offered through the State’s Attorney Office,” said Russ Slinkard, president and CEO of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “It provides a means of seeking recovery of what would otherwise be lost revenue to a business, and does it at absolutely no cost to the business seeking collection assistance. We appreciate the work of State’s Attorney Glasgow in establishing and operating the Bad Check Restitution Program and feel that the revenue recovered to date certainly justifies his effort.”

While Glasgow is extremely pleased by the program’s success, the state’s attorney urged more businesses to seek restitution by taking advantage of this free program.

“You can do more than post bad checks that represent your losses on a Wall of Shame,” he said. “Seek restitution for the goods and services you provided in good faith. No business is too small. No check amount is too tiny. Let my office help you out.”

For the simple, step-by-step instructions on how to use the program and to obtain the necessary report forms, visit the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office Web site at willcountysao.com and click on the Bad Check Restitution Program menu at the left. Or call the Bad Check Restitution Program hotline at (866) 801-4885.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow joins Heineken USA, Kozol Bros. to launch Operation Teen Proof

in

May 2

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow today announced the launch of Operation Teen Proof, a cooperative program designed to curtail underage drinking in Will County.

The announcement was made during a breakfast presentation attended by local police, fire officials, educators, liquor enforcement officials and business leaders from across Will County. Through Operation Teen Proof, the state’s attorney, along with Heineken USA and Joliet-based distributor Kozol Bros., Inc., will raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and take important steps to prevent underage people from purchasing alcoholic beverages.

“It is critical that we launch a public discussion about the hazards of underage drinking as young people are celebrating the end of the school year and high school seniors are poised to graduate and take their first taste of adult freedom,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “But they must know this freedom does not give them the right to drink alcohol. We must help them make the right decisions, and the beverage industry must reinforce our message.”

To enlist support in preventing minors from purchasing alcohol, the state’s attorney’s office, Heineken USA and Kozol Bros. will distribute more than 5,000 driver’s license verifiers (DLVs) to every liquor store, bar and restaurant throughout Will County.

The verifiers highlight the pearlescent print inscription, “A Safer State With Point .08,” that runs across the entire front of the Illinois driver’s license including the photograph. The verifiers greatly improve a proprietor’s ability to spot signs of tampering and enable him or her to make a more informed decision as to the true age of a prospective customer. 

“Heineken USA is pleased to support State’s Attorney Glasgow’s proactive stand against underage drinking in Will County,” said Tamara Moore, senior director of corporate relations, Heineken USA. “Operation Teen Proof is a demonstration of one of the core corporate values at Heineken USA; that the company can help identify solutions to issues associated with alcohol consumption. This partnership allows us to help drive a positive impact in the communities where we both live and sell our product.”

In addition, Kozol Bros. will distribute fliers to licensees letting customers know their establishment follows the law by aggressively checking driver’s licenses and refusing to sell liquor to anyone who is underage.

“It is important that the beverage industry take the lead and assist law enforcement in its efforts to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors,” Glasgow said. “Operation Teen Proof stresses the importance of protecting our young people by complying with Illinois law.”

During the launch event, Glasgow also introduced Jim Rockwell, a man who at the age of 16 experienced the life-changing effects of drinking and driving. As a result of his crash, Rockwell suffered a coma and nearly died. Since then, he has spoken to hundreds of thousands of young people across the country about the dangers of drinking and driving, including a group of local students on Friday afternoon.

Rockwell’s cautionary message to young people seeks to counter troubling local statistics on underage alcohol consumption. According to a 2006 survey of Will County high school seniors conducted by the Illinois Youth Survey, students start to drink alcohol regularly at age 15. In addition, 66 percent of those surveyed stated they had consumed alcohol within the past month, yet only 54 percent reported they believed regular alcohol consumption to be harmful.

These statistics highlight the need for students to receive warnings about the dangers of underage drinking through local prevention programs. “I have always made crime prevention a priority, because every dollar we spend on prevention saves us $10 to $20 in remedial costs,” Glasgow said. “Just last week we sponsored the Road to Reality program at a local high school to show young people the cruel realities of drunken driving.”

The state’s attorney also expressed support for local liquor commissioners and police officials who train proprietors and regularly spot check businesses in their communities to ensure they follow the law. Their diligent enforcement efforts are helping to keep our young people safe.

State’s Attorney Glasgow announces formation of new Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit to assist senior citizens

in

April 16

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces the formation of a new Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit that will assist senior citizens who are the victims of financial exploitation, theft, identity theft or loan fraud.

The new unit is headed by two Will County prosecutors, Chris Koch and Dant Foulk, and will receive investigative support from Will County Sheriff’s Department detectives under the direction of Pete Piazza, who heads Glasgow’s Investigations Division.

The unit also will receive support from the U.S. Secret Service, which has an agent based at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office. In addition, prosecutors in the unit will work closely with other Will County police agencies like the Joliet Police Department, which has two detectives dedicated to the investigation of financial crimes. 

The unit also has drafted criteria for Will County police departments to identify what qualifies as a financial crime. Crimes that meet the criteria will be forwarded directly to the Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit for review.

Assistant State’s Attorney Koch successfully prosecuted former Joliet Fire Chief Joseph Drick and his wife, Cheri Drick. The couple befriended an elderly Joliet woman in 2002 and proceeded to steal more than $200,000 from her savings. The Dricks currently are serving an eight-year prison sentence.

Assistant State’s Attorney Foulk specializes in prosecuting financial crimes with a concentration on seizing assets that are connected to criminal enterprises, including mortgage fraud and money laundering.

The unit will specialize in untangling complex financial cases and prosecuting those who steal from Will County’s senior citizens. The unit is designed to investigate and prosecute a broad range of financial crimes, many of which target vulnerable elderly citizens. It also will investigate traditional white collar thefts as well as illegal financial schemes tied to street gangs and organized crime.

State’s Attorney Glasgow stressed that senior citizens should know that the unit’s prosecutors and detectives are available to assist them if they are victimized by unscrupulous financial predators. 

“Our successful prosecution of the Dricks drove home the need for an in-house unit skilled at combing through complicated financial documents to uncover evidence of crimes against our senior citizens,” Glasgow said. “The members of this highly specialized unit will follow the paper trail and bring these brazen criminals to justice.”

The Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit has been operating for several months and already has opened more than 30 investigations. A number of senior citizens already have received assistance.

In one instance, the unit worked with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to help an 83-year-old woman regain access to her life savings after she was convinced by a financial planner to tie up her money in a 10-year annuity with heavy penalties for early withdrawal. The case was resolved without criminal charges; the money was returned to the woman and the annuity was canceled without penalty.

“This lady accepted my standing invitation and contacted me personally after attending one of our presentations on senior scams,” Glasgow said. “Her story was heartbreaking. She had saved wisely her entire life and had accumulated sufficient funds to live comfortably in her senior years. I was appalled to learn that a financial planner had made a very large commission by cutting off her ready access to her savings for a decade. When she came to my office, her finances were so tight, she was literally in danger of losing her home and unable to replace her 11-year-old car.” 

In another case, a grand jury on April 9 indicted a 47-year-old Lockport man on multiple counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person, aggravated identity theft, forgery and loan fraud. The indictments allege the defendant fraudulently gained ownership of an elderly woman’s house.

The Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit will begin its investigations with an eye toward criminal prosecutions and gaining restitution for senior citizens. If a case does not rise to the level of a criminal charge, the unit’s members will place senior citizens in contact with other agencies that can assist them.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you are a senior citizen and believe you are the victim of a financial crime, you can contact Detective Pete Piazza at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office at (815) 727-8878.

Glasgow, Wilhelmi promote bill to allow statements at trial from witnesses who are killed, threatened by defendants

in

April 15

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and State Senator A.J. Wilhelmi announce that they are working on legislation that would eliminate the incentive for criminals in Illinois to kill, threaten or bribe witnesses to prevent them from testifying at trial.

The legislation proposed in SB2718 would allow prosecutors to enter into evidence the relevant statements from witnesses who were killed, threatened or bribed to stop them from testifying.

Under the proposed legislation, criminal defendants could no longer profit at trial from their illegal activities by claiming that the statements from witnesses they silenced are hearsay. The proposed Senate bill borrows from a federal rule that has assisted prosecutors in pursuing organized crime and drug cartel cases involving criminals who killed, threatened or bribed witnesses to silence them.

“Prosecutors at the federal level and in other states have used this rule of evidence to secure convictions against the most dangerous criminals,” Glasgow said. “This legislation will clarify the rule of evidence in Illinois to prevent defendants from escaping justice by murdering or intimidating a witness.”

“Under the state’s current rule of evidence, violent criminals in Illinois can profit from their illegal actions simply by silencing the witnesses against them,” Sen. Wilhelmi said. “The legislation I am proposing will clarify this rule and bring it into the 21st Century.”

The legislation would not affect a defendant’s due process rights. Prosecutors in Illinois will have to argue and prove in advance to a judge that the rule would apply to any statements they hope to enter into evidence.

This doctrine has been made into law in more than a dozen other states, among them Maryland, California, Connecticut, North Carolina, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont and Hawaii. Most of these states have simply adopted the federal rule. Others, like Maryland and California, have drafted and codified into law their own versions of this doctrine.

This is not a new legal principle. The application of this doctrine dates back more than 400 years under English common law and at least 130 years in the United States.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Reynolds in 1878 discussed this rule in the context of a bigamy case in which the defendant refused to tell law enforcement where one of his wives was located to prevent her from being served with a subpoena. The trial court allowed into evidence prior statements from that wife concerning her marriage to the defendant. The Supreme Court upheld the trial court.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow to announce new Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit to assist senior citizens

in

April 15

WHAT: Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow will announce the creation of a Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit that will assist senior citizens who are the victims of identity theft, financial exploitation, theft or loan fraud.

WHEN: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 16.

WHERE: St. Joseph Park Parish, 1500 N. Raynor, Joliet.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: 

State’s Attorney Glasgow and members of his Crime Prevention Division have been meeting with senior citizens for years to educate them about common financial scams that target the elderly.

On Wednesday, the state’s attorney will announce the formation of his Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit that will specialize in bringing those who exploit senior citizens to justice.

He will discuss the new unit and introduce the prosecutors and investigators who will handle these cases during a brief presentation before the monthly meeting of the Senior Citizens Association at St. Joseph Parish Park.

Charges filed against Peotone woman alleging dogs were kept in unsanitary conditions

in

April 15

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that charges have been filed against a Peotone woman alleging that she failed to properly care for the dogs in her possession.

Nikima L. Wright, 35, of 10047 W. Offner Road, Peotone, was charged with 14 counts of Animal Owner’s Duties. The charges, all Class B misdemeanors, allege that Wright “knowingly failed to provide humane animal care and treatment” for the dogs under her control.

A Class B misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to six month in jail and fines of up to $1,500 upon conviction.

Cook County detectives, while conducting an investigation that led them into Will County, took 49 small dogs from a shed on Wright’s property on March 1. Cook County detectives transferred the dogs to the PAWS shelter in Tinley Park, where they currently are being cared for.

The first of the charges against Wright alleges the 49 dogs were kept in crates “that were not cleaned of feces and urine which resulted in unsanitary living conditions.” The remaining 13 charges refer to individual injuries caused to specific dogs.

Wright is scheduled to appear in Will County Circuit Court at 9 a.m. on May 2 in courtroom 304.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.