JOLIET – The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center was recently recognized by Ecolab Corporation for its work with children who have suffered child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse.
Ecolab Foundation’s Community Relations Council recently awarded the Children’s Advocacy Center a $5,000 grant to help support the agency’s mission. Ecolab Foundation has provided continued financial support to the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center since 2002.
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 to improve the way allegations of child sexual abuse are investigated. Since then, the Children’s Advocacy Center has played a critical role in hundreds of successful abuse investigations while directing young victims and their families to important support services.
“I want to thank Ecolab Foundation for acknowledging the important work the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center performs on behalf of abused children in our community,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “This funding will enable the Center to continue its crucial mission of protecting these vulnerable victims by prosecuting their abusers.”
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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and House Minority Leader Tom Cross are warning retailers that selling any product containing synthetic marijuana will be illegal under a new law that takes effect on January 1, 2012.
State’s Attorney Glasgow researched and drafted the law that makes the sale or possession of synthetic marijuana a felony crime. Rep. Cross sponsored the legislation, HB 2595, which the governor signed earlier this year. Glasgow and Cross were joined at a news conference Wednesday afternoon by more than 30 local police chiefs and law enforcement officials as well as local mayors and other community leaders in urging retailers to acknowledge the new law and stop selling these products.
In addition to Glasgow and Cross, those who addressed the media included Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Shorewood Police Chief Aaron Klima and former Will CountyState’s Attorney’s Office Detective Dave Margliano.
Synthetic marijuana has been sold legally under brand names such as K2, K4 White Widow, Black Mamba, Spice, Purple Haze, Zombie Matter and Orange Krunck to name a few. They are sold as incense in packages that often state: “Not For Human Consumption.”
However, consumers have been smoking these products – sometimes with encouragement from shop owners – in the same way people would smoke illegal marijuana. Health risks posed by smoking synthetic cannabinoids include seizures, hallucinations, tremors, paranoia, convulsions, high blood pressure and rapid heart rate. Poison control centers across the country have received more than 5,000 calls related to synthetic marijuana products in the first nine months of 2011, according to published reports.
“Over-the-counter availability of synthetic marijuana has created a public-health crisis in Will County and across the nation,” Glagsow said. “Young people are being poisoned by these extraordinarily dangerous chemicals. It was our obligation as law enforcement officials and as legislators to pass a law banning the possession and sale of every form of synthetic marijuana in Illinois.”
“With access to these dangerous substances, the safety of our children and consumers is at stake,” said Rep. Cross. “That is why we acted so quickly when we learned people were getting sick after abusing these items and banned these substances through legislation this Spring.”
Under the new law:
All known synthetic marijuana products will be classified as an illegal Schedule 1 controlled substance. Laws were being enacted that outlawed only some chemical formulas for synthetic marijuana, but allowed the continued sale of substitute formulas. The new law comprehensively bans all currently available substances and covers more than 160 formulas.
Anyone who sells products containing synthetic marijuana could be charged with a Class 3 Felony that upon conviction carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to a $150,000 fine and the seizure of illegal stock as well as any property used to facilitate the sale. However, penalties can range as high as 30 years in prison and $500,000 in fines for someone who sells 200 grams or more of synthetic marijuana.
Anyone who simply possesses synthetic marijuana could be charged with a Class 4 Felony that carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office will work with local police agencies in January to make certain that retailers are complying with Illinois law. Officers – in uniform or undercover – will visit tobacco retailers throughout the county to ensure that these illegal products are not being sold. Last week, Glasgow and Cross sent letters to more than 350 tobacco merchants notifying them of the new law and warning them to remove the stock from their shelves.
Some states have passed laws banning a few of the literally hundreds of formulas for synthetic marijuana. A sophisticated industry has developed in which suppliers track legislation and skirt the intent of lawmakers by shipping formulas that are not banned in particular states. House Bill 2595 was reviewed by the Illinois State Crime Lab and will outlaw all synthetic marijuana compounds in Illinois.
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Will County Law Enforcement Officials Warn Retailers: Stop Selling All Forms of Synthetic Marijuana or Face Felony Charges
WHAT: Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, House Minority Leader Tom Cross and several Will County police chiefs will hold a news conference to discuss a new Illinois law banning the sale and possession of all known forms of synthetic marijuana effective January 1, 2012.
WHEN: 2 p.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2011
WHERE: Shorewood Village Hall, One Towne Center Blvd., Shorewood, IL 60404 DETAILS: These products currently are being sold legally as “incense” over the counter in tobacco shops and convenience stores. HB 2595, drafted by State’s Attorney Glasgow and sponsored by Rep. Cross, bans the sale and possession of all known forms of synthetic marijuana.
Law enforcement officials will discuss enforcing the law through police compliance inspections scheduled for January. Penalties for violators will be outlined.
Officers will discuss how some merchants have encouraged customers to smoke these materials even though packaging states: “Not For Human Consumption.” Several brands of synthetic marijuana purchased legally by law enforcement will be available for media inspection and photos.
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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a Crest Hill man pleaded guilty to aggravated child pornography and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Joshua K. Price, 27, was sentenced by Associate Judge Edward Burmila after entering a blind plea on Monday morning. As part of his sentence, Price must register as a sex offender.
The defendant left a flash drive containing hundreds of digital images of child pornography in a computer at Joliet Junior College. A student found the flash drive and gave it to a faculty member. The faculty discovered the illegal images and immediately contacted police, who linked Price to the flash drive through other documents on the drive.
Price admitted that he possessed the images when questioned by police. Children in the images ranged in age from 3 to 15; no children in the images are believed to be local.
Assistant State’s Attorney Fred Harvey prosecuted the case.
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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a Joliet woman found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a Channahon man has been sentenced to 61 years in prison.
Mary Vetor, 26, also was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and home invasion at the conclusion of a jury trial in June. Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Vetor on Monday. The defendant faced a minimum of 56 years in prison.
Vetor supplied the weapons – a gun and a baseball bat – that were used during the home invasion inside the Channahon apartment of Joshua Terdic on July 7, 2009. Terdic was shot in the head and died 10 days later. A female victim, Lauren Vasilakis, also was shot but survived.
In addition to supplying the weapons, Vetor helped hatch the plan to steal money and drugs from Terdic. She also drove the two men who carried out the attack to Terdic’s home.
“Mary Vetor is as responsible for the murder of Joshua Terdic as if she had placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger herself,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Not only did she provide the deadly weapon used to commit this murder, she was completely involved in planning and carrying out this brutal attack.”
Two other defendants, Jason S. Orasco, 27, of Channahon, and Matthew Edwards, 19, of Joliet, also face charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and home invasion in connection with the incident. They are awaiting trial.
A fourth defendant, Ashley Hill, 19, of Joliet, pleaded guilty to home invasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison in exchange for her truthful testimony against Vetor.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Fitzgerald, who heads the office’s Felony Division, Christine Vukmir and Daniel Walsh prosecuted the case against Vetor and secured the sentence. The murder was investigated by the Will County Major Crimes Task Force.
With regard to pending cases, 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.
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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a jury on Friday found a Lockport man guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his elderly father.
Scott Sullivan, 58, of 928 E. First Street, Lockport also was found guilty of aggravated battery to a senior citizen at the conclusion of the four-day trial. He faces between 20 and 60 years in prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak on February 29.
Sullivan beat his 86-year-old father, Fred Sullivan, about the head and body on July 18, 2010. He died as a result of his injuries four months later in November.
The beating left Fred Sullivan, a World War II veteran who suffered from age-related dementia and who required supervision and care, unable to walk or talk in the months before he died. He also required a feeding tube for nourishment after the beating.
“Fred Sullivan suffered a horrific beating at the hands of his own son,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Scott Sullivan betrayed his father by physically abusing him rather than providing the compassionate and loving care this World War II veteran so richly deserved in his senior years.”
Paramedics responding to Scott Sullivan’s home in July 2010 found a severely bruised Fred Sullivan lying on the floor. Scott Sullivan, who was drinking a beer, told paramedics and Will County Sheriff’s Department detectives that his father had fallen.
However, a forensic pathologist testified at trial that Fred Sullivan had suffered extensive bruising that the 5-foot, 4-inch, 140-pound man could not have sustained in a single fall. There were bruises on his head, torso and legs. His right eye was swollen shut and his lip was bruised. In addition, Fred Sullivan’s blood was found throughout the living room and dining room.
Scott Sullivan had been alone with his father prior to the arrival of paramedics and detectives.
Glasgow credited Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Fitzgerald, Jim Long and Heather Meyers as well as Will County Sheriff’s Detectives with securing a conviction in this case.
“Everyone involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case went the extra mile,” the State’s Attorney said. “These prosecutors and detectives all know we cannot allow this kind of violence to be inflicted upon our senior citizens.”
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The following statement may be attributed to Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow:
“I am extraordinarily pleased by Wednesday’s Illinois Supreme Court order in the matter of People v. Peterson. I look forward to receiving an Appellate Court ruling on the merits of our appeal in light of the Illinois Supreme Court’s holdings in People v. Hanson. We anticipate a trial sometime in the spring.”
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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Naperville Police Chief David Dial announce that a man has been indicted for First-Degree Murder in connection with the June 6 killing of his sister.
A six-count Bill of Indictment was handed up Monday against Mark R. Lewis, 51, of 829 Game Trail, Lakemoor, Ill. The indictment includes four counts of First-Degree Murder, one count of Home Invasion and one count of Residential Burglary.
The indictment handed up Monday alleges Mark Lewis entered Cathleen Lewis’ dwelling without authority on June 6 and killed her by striking her in the head with a blunt object.
An arrest warrant with a bond set at $1.5 million was issued on Monday. Lewis must post 10 percent or $150,000 to secure his release from jail while awaiting trial. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 19.
Mark Lewis currently is in the Will County Jail awaiting trial on an Identity Theft indictment alleging he used personal information from his mother, Delores Lewis, to fraudulently cash checks valued at more than $2,000 on her account. Bond in that case was set at $200,000.
The murder indictment handed up Monday follows an intensive six-month investigation by the Naperville Police Department.
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Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow talks with Will County Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Dymek during a break in law enforcement training in the Krav Maga self-defense system.
JOLIET – Roughly 30 law enforcement officers attended highly specialized self-defense training sponsored by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and the Illinois State Crime Commission.
State’s Attorney Glasgow and the Crime Commission, under the leadership of Executive Director Jerry Elsner, coordinated the two-day training seminar in the Krav Maga self-defense system. The free training was held at the Illinois State Rifle Association Shooting Range near Kankakee.
Sessions featured training in hand-to-hand combat and tactical self-defense as well as close-quarter handgun defense training and an introduction to the AR15 tactical assault rifle. Officers who participated were from the Will County, Cook County and Kankakee Sheriff’s Departments, Romeoville, Aurora, South Chicago Heights as well as from other agencies throughout the region.
Krav Maga is the official self-defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces and has been taught to hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the United States. The simple, effective self-defense system emphasizes instinctive movements and practical techniques taught in realistic training scenarios. The goal is to provide officers with the skills necessary to quickly stop problems on the street and take swift and safe control of dangerous situations.
“The threats our police officers face on the streets today are unimaginable,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Krav Maga instructors last weekend put these officers through the paces and provided them with the streetwise self-defense training they need to protect themselves and the public in the most dangerous and chaotic situations.”
Romeoville Police Officer Woody Jones receives instruction in counter-ambush tactics while shooting from a vehicle at the Krav Maga training.
“This was the kind of hardcore training that will help officers respond to any situation they encounter,” said ISCC Executive Director Elsner. “They were out there in the field learning how to defend themselves effectively against knife-wielding criminals and how to take down violent offenders twice their size.”
Training included defensive and combative strikes to control and subdue offenders who are carrying guns, knives or baseball bats. Weapons training involved counter-ambush tactics deployed while approaching suspicious vehicles or shooting at threatening targets from inside a car.
The training was conducted by self-defense specialists from Israeli Combat Krav Maga based in Indianapolis. The instructional staff consists of sworn law enforcement officers. The instructors themselves had traveled to Israel to be trained by Krav Maga experts who had served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Krav Maga training is adapted to comply with use-of-force standards for police officers in the United States. The training is updated in consultation with use-of-force experts – including district attorneys, police liability defense lawyers, police administrators and defensive tactics instructors – to provide effective, defensible applications of reasonable force.
The Illinois State Crime Commission was established in 1994 and operates as a tax exempt charitable organization. Its goal is to offer creative legislative solutions and assist law enforcement agencies to prevent crime in our communities through a unique blend of awareness and activities.A spring training session for law enforcement is currently being planned.
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JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a Joliet man on Tuesday was sentenced to 10 years in prison for burglarizing an abandoned Cub Foods store and attempting to steal copper piping from the building in March of this year.
Derrick Bullock, 49, was convicted of burglary by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak at the conclusion of a bench trial in August. Judge Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Bullock on Tuesday.
Bullock and two other men entered the empty building at 191 S. Larkin Ave. in Joliet on March 16. Officers from the Joliet Police Department’s Burglary Task Force were on patrol.
Led by Senior Officer Michael Reilly, task force members entered the building in pitch black darkness facing unknown threats. Bullock and the other defendants attempted to flee when they heard police, leaving freshly cut copper near an exit. The three were arrested on site. Testimony at Bullock’s trial revealed one defendant had a copper-cutting device in his possession.
“Derrick Bullock has an extensive criminal history with seven prior felonies including armed robbery and residential burglary,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “He is a threat to society who has earned every moment he will spend in prison.”
The State’s Attorney credited prosecutors Frank Byers and Marie Griffin with securing a conviction and sentence that takes Bullock off the streets. The State’s Attorney also credited the Joliet Police Department’s Burglary Task Force for its first-rate police work.
Charges are still pending against two other defendants.
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