Will County State’s Attorney’s Office Trial Team: People v. Vaughn

in

August 10

The Will County State’s Attorney Office is releasing the following biographical information of the four experienced trial attorneys who will prosecute Case Number 07CF1308, People v. Vaughn.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald

Michael Fitzgerald

Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fitzgerald is the chief of State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s Felony Division.  In this role, he supervises 26 assistant state’s attorneys who prosecute approximately 3,000 new felony cases each year, ranging from first-degree murder to retail theft. Fitzgerald has been with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for 13 years during which has prosecuted every kind of felony case.  He helped secure a first-degree murder conviction against a Joliet man who shot and killed a father who was walking to a store with his two young sons. He also helped obtain a murder conviction against a Mokena teenager who killed his 4-year-old sister by slicing her neck with a kitchen knife. In addition, he secured convictions against two individuals who coordinated and/or carried out a murder and home invasion that left one man dead from gunshot wounds and another woman injured in southwest suburban Channahon.  Fitzgerald served as a felony courtroom supervisor and as co-chief of the State’s Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Prosecution Unit.  He also served for three years as a prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. Fitzgerald received his law degree from DePaul University School of Law.

Assistant State’s Attorney Debbie Mills

Debbie MillsAssistant State’s Attorney Debbie Mills is the chief of State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s Misdemeanor Division. Before coming to Will County, Mills worked as a prosecutor in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for five years where she prosecuted a wide range of cases including both misdemeanors and felonies. Mills joined the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2002 and served as Supervisor of the Complaint/Grand Jury Division before becoming the Misdemeanor Division chief in 2004. In addition to supervising her division, Mills actively prosecutes many felony cases. Most recently, she secured a conviction in a hotly contested case involving a drunken driver who crashed his vehicle, killing his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son who was sleeping in the back seat in southsuburan Steger.  Mills received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse and her law degree from DePaul University College of Law. 

Assistant State’s Attorney Jim Long

Jim LongAssistant State’s Attorney Jim Long has been a prosecutor with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office since 2003.  Long currently serves as a supervising attorney in a felony courtroom, where he has successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases ranging from murder to robbery to rape.  Long secured convictions against a son who physically abused and murdered his aging father and attempted to cover it up as an accident as well as a man who shot and killed a man walking out of convenience store in Joliet. Long graduated from Saint Mary University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in international business. He is also a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law. Before joining the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, Long interned with a District Attorney’s Office in Oregon and at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Assistant State’s Attorney Chris Regis

Chris RegisAssistant State’s Attorney Chris Regis has worked at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office since 2003.  Before becoming a prosecutor, Regis served as an officer for the Joliet Police Department from 1991 to 2000. Since joining the State’s Attorney’s office, Regis has successfully prosecuted numerous felonies, including many murder cases.  He also has secured convictions against local gang members in gang-related shootings as well as a Florida man who traveled to Illinois and sexually abused a minor. Regis is a graduate of Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. He earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School.


Joliet man convicted in eye-gouging attack on elderly uncle

in

August 9

Exulam Holman, 33.

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that that a jury on Thursday found a Joliet man guilty of aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery of a senior citizen for gouging the eyes of his elderly uncle.

Exulam Holman, 33, of 1130 McKay, Joliet was found guilty after a jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes. He faces a between 3 and 14 years in prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak on October 11.

On this past New Year’s Eve, Holman and his elderly uncle, Melvin Clifford, fought over a missing remote television control at their residence. An argument ensued after Clifford asked Holman about the missing remote, according to testimony. Holman initially pushed his uncle down some stairs. When Clifford came back up the stairs, Holman pushed him down, pinned him to the ground by placing his knees on his uncle’s shoulders and gouged his eyes by pushing his thumbs into the sockets.

As a result of this brutal attack, Clifford lost one eye and has limited vision in the other. Despite the injuries he sustained, Clifford was able to call 911 on the night of the attack. 

The victim is a veteran who served in Vietnam. On the night of the attack, there were numerous people in the house. None of them cooperated with police during the investigation.

“Exulam Holman brutally attacked his elderly uncle for no apparent reason,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “A prison sentence is critical to punish this act of extraordinary savagery against a senior citizen and a veteran.” 

Glasgow credited Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniel Walsh and Heather Meyers for securing this important conviction against a volatile criminal.


Joliet man sentenced to 50 years for attempted murder of his son

in

August 6

Roderick Tademy, 37.


JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a Joliet man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the attempted murder of his then 12-year-old son.

In June, a jury deliberated for 35 minutes before convicting Roderick Tademy, 37, of 1221 Cutter Ave., of attempted murder, aggravated battery to a child and aggravated battery with a firearm. Circuit Judge Sarah Jones sentenced Tademy to 50 years on Monday.

The young boy was sitting on his couch and playing video games when his father shot him in the head with a .22-caliber handgun on Dec. 20, 2010.  The boy’s mother testified that after she heard the gunfire, Roderick Tademy told her that her son was dead. She dialed 911 and police arrested Tademy at the scene.

The victim survived the attack but remains in a long-term care facility and requires a ventilator to breathe. Roderick Tademy alleged that he suffered from insanity at the time of the shooting, a claim the jury quickly rejected at the conclusion of a weeklong trial.

“Roderick Tademy committed an unthinkably brutal crime against his own son,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Instead of loving and protecting his son at all costs, just as every father should, Roderick Tademy inflicted terrible harm on this innocent young boy.”

Glasgow credited Assistant State’s Attorney’s Tricia McKenna and Dan Walsh for expert trial work that secured this important conviction and sentence.


State’s Attorney Glasgow thanks downtown Joliet employees, visitors for making lifesaving donations at July 13 Blood Drive

in

July 17

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow talks with WCCQ’s Carol McGowan and urges people to come out to donate during a live broadcast from the Taylor Babec Community Blood Drive at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office on July 13.


JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow thanked everyone who made a lifesaving donation during another successful Taylor Babec Community Blood Drive held July 13 at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Heartland Blood Centers reported that the second Blood Drive at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office surpassed all expectations for a summer drive with 103 people signing up to donate and 101 units collected.

This high turnout is critically important for the community because blood donations drop significantly during summer months due to vacations and summer closings of local high schools and colleges. Twenty five percent of Heartland’s blood supply comes from school drives. 

Jennifer Babec, the Joliet mom who is Heartland’s top volunteer organizer, once again worked with State’s Attorney Glasgow’s office to coordinate the summer drive. The first drive she coordinated with the office in March broke a record for Heartland with 154 people registering to donate and 139 units collected.  During blood drives, a small percentage of donors are typically deferred for various reasons.

Jennifer has been coordinating drives with Heartland since 2008, shortly after her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor, was diagnosed with lymphoma. During Taylor’s three-year recovery, she required intensive chemotherapy treatments and 22 blood transfusions that revived her physical energy and her spirits. Today, Taylor is a happy and healthy 10-year-old girl.

“When Jennifer and Heartland urged us to host a drive to replenish the local blood supply during the slow summer months, we were all too happy to help,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “We may be in the midst of a summer drought, but we can make certain the supply of blood and blood products will not dry up at our local hospitals. The combined efforts of everyone who coordinated this drive and everyone who donated definitely will save lives right here in Will County.”  

Glasgow specifically thanked the secretaries, support staff and attorneys from the State’s Attorney’s Office for their donations as well as their patience and cooperation during the Blood Drive, which closed off the office parking lot and created a great deal of extra traffic in the office lobby.

Country Station 98.3 WCCQ’s Carol McGowan broadcast live from the Blood Drive in the morning, and throughout the day Heartland volunteers served delicious pulled pork sandwiches courtesy of Baby Back Blues BBQ of Plainfield. In addition, every donor received a gift card for a free quart of Oberweis Dairy ice cream and a deluxe barbecue set from Heartland.


State’s Attorney Glasgow teaming up with Heartland, local mom to host second blood drive in downtown Joliet on July 13

in

July 9

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow is again partnering with Heartland Blood Centers and local mom Jennifer Babec to host a community blood drive from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Friday July 13 at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, 121 N. Chicago St. in Joliet.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is across the street from the historic Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet.

State’s Attorney Glasgow and Joliet resident Jennifer Babec – whose young daughter required more than 20 blood transfusions during her successful battle against cancer – are working together to bring three of Heartland Blood Center’s mobile coaches to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office on Friday. Jennifer is Heartland’s top volunteer coordinator.

The State’s Attorney’s Office will have some fun to encourage donations:

  • Country Station 98.3 WCCQ’s Carol McGowan will host a live morning broadcast at the State’s Attorney’s Office.
  • Heartland volunteers will serve pulled pork sandwiches courtesy of Baby Back Blues BBQ of Plainfield.  Come hungry…they’ll start serving sandwiches first thing in the morning.  We’ll have donuts and coffee too for those who prefer more traditional breakfast fare.
  • Every donor will receive a gift card for a free quart of Oberweis Dairy Ice Cream.
  • And Heartland will raffle a deluxe barbecue set to one lucky donor.

Blood donations drop signficantly during summer months due to vacations and summer closings of local high schools and colleges. Twenty five percent of Heartland’s blood supply comes from school drives. The July 13 drive will be an opportunity to boost the local supply. Heartland is the sole provider of blood and blood products for Silver Cross Hospital and Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center.

State’s Attorney Glasgow is encouraging anyone who works in or plans to visit downtown Joliet to take roughly 30 minutes to donate blood on July 13.

Appointments guarantee you will move quickly through the process and can be made by calling Jennifer Babec at (815) 325-4282, or by visiting Heartland Blood Centers online at www.heartlandbc.org. Walk-in donors also will be welcomed.


Will County State’s Attorney’s Office Trial Team: People v. Peterson

in

July 5

Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow will lead a four-member team of highly experienced trial attorneys in the prosecution of Case Number 09CF1048, People v. Peterson. Biographical information on members of the trial team, including the State’s Attorney, is provided below.

Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow
Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow is the lead prosecutor in the murder trial of Drew Peterson.  State’s Attorney Glasgow has a long and distinguished career during which he has implemented groundbreaking initiatives to investigate, prosecute and prevent crime.

State's Attorney James W. Glasgow

State’s Attorney Glasgow:

  • Established a Will County Veterans and Servicemembers Court to provide critical treatment, counseling and assistance to local veterans and servicemembers who have struggled with mental health and substance abuse disorders since returning home from military operations. He also purchased an ADA-accessible shuttle bus for use by the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County to transport local veterans from Joliet to Hines VA Hospital where they receive necessary medical services. He used money forfeited to the state by criminals to fund the bus.
  • Passed two tough new domestic violence laws in 2011 and 2012 that significantly increase penalties for repeat offenders as well as for abusers who torture their victims.
  • Authored a groundbreaking new state law in 2011 that closed loopholes in prior laws and made it illegal to possess or sell every form of synthetic marijuana. State’s Attorney Glasgow and House Minority Leader Tom Cross, who sponsored the law, sent 350 letters to tobacco vendors warning them to remove the products from their shelves, resulting in virtually complete compliance in Will County.
  • Created the new Paws 4 Kids program in which licensed pet therapy dogs welcome children who come to the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center for victim sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual abuse. State’s Attorney Glasgow established the Center in 1995 to assist in the prosecution of child predators and to ease the trauma these investigations create for sensitive children. 
  • Formed a Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit to investigate and prosecute financial predators who target the elderly.
  • Opened the Miller Taylor House, a home for recovering addicts that is operated by the Will County Drug Court. A recovery home for women is in the process of being opened. State’s Attorney Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the Drug Court, which has helped nearly 300 drug abusers kick their addictions and return to their communities as productive citizens who pay their way rather than burdening society with their addictions and crimes. 
  • Implemented a Bad Check Restitution Program that has reclaimed nearly $2 million dollars in lost revenues to Will County businesses.
  • Produced several Gang Awareness and Prevention books to educate the public about gang activity in their schools and communities. He also formed Will County’s first Gang Prosecution Unit in the early 1990s and helped organize gang sweeps that dramatically reduced gang shootings in the early 1990s, and he drafted an administrative order that banned the wearing of gang clothing, flashing of gang signs and other gang activity inside the Will County Courthouse.
  • Drafted an Animal Torture Statute that created the first felony charge in Illinois for the abuse of animals and a mandatory psychiatric evaluation upon conviction to identify potential mass murderers.
  • Established a Crime Prevention Division that travels the county to educate citizens about gang violence, financial scams, elder abuse, Internet safety and drug abuse prevention.

In his long history with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, Glasgow served as a lead prosecutor in both the Misdemeanor and Felony Trial Divisions. He has successfully prosecuted felony criminal cases ranging from retail theft to first-degree murder. In addition, he secured jury convictions in three death-penalty cases. Two of those convictions in the 1990s were against Gregory Shaw and Elton Williams. Both were convicted of shooting Crest Hill Police Officer Timothy Simenson.

Glasgow served as Will County’s elected State’s Attorney from 1992–2000, and once again as the elected State’s Attorney from 2004 to the present. He currently is serving his fourth term.  He received his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.  He has been practicing law since 1981.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Patton 

Assistant State's Attorney Kathleen Patton

Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Patton is State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Criminal Division Chief.  In that role, she supervises and directs more than 50 assistant state’s attorneys who prosecute roughly 3,000 new felony cases and more than 4,000 new misdemeanor cases each year. Patton has been with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for a total of 19 years, eight years in the 1980s and the last 11 starting in 2001.  She has served the last five elected state’s attorneys and has successfully prosecuted numerous murder cases as well as other felonies over the course of her career. In one notable case, Patton secured a conviction and an eight-year prison sentence against a local fire chief and his wife who stole more than $100,000 from the accounts of an elderly woman he and his wife had befriended. Patton received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and attended graduate school at Columbia College. She received her law degree from Valparaiso University.

Assistant State’s Attorney John Connor

Assistant State's Attorney John Connor

Assistant State’s Attorney John Connor spearheaded State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Grand Jury investigation into the disappearance of Stacy Peterson and the murder of Kathleen Savio. He has been a prosecutor for the past 14 years and helped launch the state’s attorney’s Major Crimes Prosecution Unit. He also was instrumental in establishing the office’s Computer Crimes Prosecution Unit, which specializes in criminal cases that involve digital evidence. As a felony courtroom supervisor, he successfully prosecuted criminal cases ranging from theft and robbery to rape and murder. He served as the lead prosecutor in more than 25 felony jury trials, notably securing a conviction and 104-year prison sentence for Larry Southwood, who sexually abused a 14-year-old girl who has cerebral palsy. Connor also served briefly as a prosecutor for the Illinois Attorney General’s High Tech Crime Bureau in Chicago. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Law School and the University of Notre Dame.

Assistant State’s Attorney Chris Koch

Assistant State's Attorney Chris Koch

Assistant State’s Attorney Chris Koch has been a prosecutor with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office since 2003. He has prosecuted a broad range of felonies including murders and many complex financial crimes. In 2007, Koch worked with Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Patton to secure the convictions against the former local fire chief and his wife for defrauding an elderly woman of more than $100,000 from her life savings. He also helped spearhead the creation of State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Financial Crimes Prosecution Unit, which handles complicated cases involving financial exploitation, theft, identity theft and loan fraud. Koch serves as a supervising attorney in a felony courtroom. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio with a degree in sociology. He received his law degree from the John Marshall Law School in 2003.


Joliet man sentenced to 45 years for fatally shooting father who was walking to store with two young sons

in

June 22

Daniel Huizar, 22


JOLIET – A Joliet man today was sentenced to 45 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder for shooting a father who was walking with his two young children outside a Joliet store in 2008. 

Daniel Huizar, 22, faced 45 years to life in prison for the murder of Alfredo Lopez, who was walking to a store in the 300 block of East Cass Avenue with his two boys when he was gunned down on April 16, 2008. Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Huizar on Friday.

Huizar was convicted in March 2011 of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Alfredo Lopez and his two children were in the vicinity of a gang fight between the Latin Kings and the Vice Lords. After the fight concluded, Huizar, who is not an admitted gang member but whose friends were involved in the gang fight, fired three rounds in the direction of his friends’ rivals. One of the bullets struck Mr. Lopez and killed him.

Seven other individuals were charged in connection with the incident. They pleaded guilty to felony charges of aggravated intimidation or intimidation in connection with the gang fight and received sentences of between 10 and 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

State’s Attorney James Glasgow thanked his prosecutors, Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniel Walsh, Michael Fitzgerald and James Long, for their hard work and dedication in securing Huizar’s conviction. He also credited the Joliet Police Department for its thorough and aggressive investigation.


State’s Attorney Glasgow honored as 2012 State’s Attorney of the Year by Illinois State Crime Commission at annual Awards Dinner

in

June 22

OAK BROOK TERRACE – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow was honored as the 2012 State’s Attorney of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission at its 16th Annual “A Salute to Those Who Make a Difference” Awards Dinner on Wednesday, June 20 at Drury Lane.

State’s Attorney Glasgow joined a number of other law enforcement officials and dignitaries from throughout Illinois in being honored by the Illinois State Crime Commission for their work keeping our communities safe.  Honorees for 2012 included Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Rasheda Ali-Walsh, the daughter of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

It was the third time in his distinguished career as Will County’s top prosecutor that State’s Attorney Glasgow has received this prestigious honor from the Illinois State Crime Commission.

Glasgow was honored in part for establishing a Veterans and Servicemembers Court to provide treatment, counseling and assistance to veterans who have struggled with mental health and substance abuse disorders after bravely serving our nation. He also was recognized for his work in passing tough new state laws to protect battered women and ban synthetic marijuana as well as the implementation of innovative programs to assist abused children and defend senior citizens.

“This honor is truly a testament to the hard work that is performed every day by the dedicated attorneys, secretaries and administrators in my office to protect the safety and welfare of the citizens of Will County,” Glasgow said. “I was truly humbled to join such a distinguished group of elected officials, judges, attorneys, business leaders and community organizers in being recognized by the Illinois State Crime Commission at its Annual Awards Dinner.”

State’s Attorney Glasgow has worked with the Illinois State Crime Commission on many occasions to provide free self-defense training to police and correctional officers. In addition, the State’s Attorney partnered with the Crime Commission, Joliet-based MorningStar Mission and other Will County social service agencies to distribute 500 winter coats to local needy children.



State’s Attorney Glasgow, Joliet Elks announce Hannah Boyer as winner in Drug Court’s ‘Name Our Dog Contest’

in

June 20

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that Hannah Boyer of Minooka Intermediate School was the winner of the contest to name the shelter dog adopted by the Will County Drug Court to live in its Miller Taylor House recovery home.

Hannah, who is 11-years-old and loves dogs, was one of several students from the more than 120 who entered the contest who felt Millie would be the best name for the friendly female dog that was adopted earlier this year from Joliet Township Animal Control’s shelter. Hannah’s name was drawn from a hat that contained slips for all of the entries suggesting the name Millie.

Joliet Elks Lodge #296 partnered with the Will County Drug Court and the State’s Attorney’s Office to sponsor the contest that gave local students a chance to name the dog. As the winner, Hannah received $50 and a dinner for her entire family at the Elks Lodge in Joliet.

She also dropped by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office last week with her parents to meet Millie for the first time and to pose for pictures with State’s Attorney Glasgow and Jeff Sterr, the Joliet Elks’ President. Millie was happy to receive a goody bag filled with doggie treats and doggie toys that Hannah brought as a gift to her.  

“Millie is the perfect name for our dog and a great way to honor Miller Taylor, who is the namesake of our recovery house,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “More importantly, Millie is a happy and friendly name that captures this wonderful dog’s kind and joyful spirit. Thank you, Hannah, for helping us choose the best name possible. And thank you to the Joliet Elks for their tireless efforts to educate children about the dangers of using drugs.”

The State’s Attorney continued: “Millie’s life started out hard, but it has a happy ending. She was abandoned and left chained to a dumpster before she was rescued and then adopted from the Joliet Township Animal Control.  She is the perfect pet and mascot to truly make our recovery house a home.”

Miller Taylor was one of the Will County Drug Court’s first graduates. He not only turned his own life around, but he continues to help others who are working their way through the program.

“Miller has taught and inspired many in the Will County Drug Court program to follow through on their hard work to reclaim their lives,” Glasgow said. “Millie also will teach the men in our recovery home valuable lessons about personal responsibility, selflessness and kindness that will serve them well when they take the next steps in their lives.”

The Miller Taylor House is believed to be the only one in the United States that is owned and operated by a Drug Court program. Will County Drug Court is in the process of opening a similar recovery home for women.

State’s Attorney Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the Will County Drug Court program in the late 1990s. He was one of the first state’s attorney’s to fully embrace the value of drug courts that help non-violent offenders break their addictions rather than cycle endlessly through the criminal justice system.


Joliet man convicted of attempted murder for shooting his son

in

June 7

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a Joliet man was convicted of attemped murder in connection with the shooting of his 12-year-old son 18 months ago.

A jury deliberated for 35 minutes before convicting Roderick Tademy, 37, of 1221 Cutter Ave., of attempted murder, aggravated battery to a child and aggravated battery with a firearm. He faces a possible penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Sarah Jones on Aug. 3.

The young boy was sitting on his couch and playing video games when his father shot him in the head with a .22-caliber handgun on Dec. 20, 2010.  The boy’s mother testified that after she heard the gunfire, Roderick Tademy told her that her son was dead. She dialed 911 and police arrested Tademy at the scene.

The victim survived the attack but remains in a long-term care facility and requires a ventilator to breathe. Roderick Tademy alleged that he suffered from insanity at the time of the shooting, a claim the jury quickly rejected at the conclusion of the roughly weeklong trial.

“It is beyond belief that a father would shoot his own son in such a callous fashion,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “It is the ultimate betrayal of the unconditional love a parent owes his child.”

Glasgow thanked Assistant State’s Attorney’s Tricia McKenna and Dan Walsh for expert trial work that secured this important conviction.