October 15

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow invites the public to the kickoff rally for the “Stop the Cycle of Abuse” bicycle ride to help in the fight against child sexual abuse.

Nearly 20 bicycle riders will begin a one-day, 60 mile trek on Thursday, Oct. 17 along historic Route 66 from Joliet to Pontiac. The kickoff rally begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Will County  Courthouse, 14 W. Jefferson St., in downtown Joliet. Rider registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in front of the courthouse.

The Joliet to Pontiac ride is the second stage in a 360-mile journey from Hoffman Estates to St. Louis. The goal is for participating riders to raise $150,000 to support programs and services provided by 39 Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout Illinois, including the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in Joliet.

Nearly 20 riders who completed the first stage of the journey will arrive in Joliet from Hoffman Estates on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Riders from the first and second stages are invited to a free meal at Chicago Street Pub, 75 N. Chicago St., downtown Joliet, starting at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

“This ride is a healthy and fun way to raise awareness and funding for non-profit agencies that continue to fight and protect vulnerable children,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “I look forward to giving our local riders a great send off for a worthy cause.”

Glasgow will be joined by Will County Executive Larry Walsh and State Sen. Patrick McGuire in the opening ceremony. The State’s Attorney will sound an air horn promptly at 9 a.m. to signal the start of the ride.

Glasgow founded the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization so it would not impact taxpayers. As a result, the center relies on grants, foundations and fundraisers like “Stop the Cycle of Abuse” to fulfill its important mission.

There is still time to donate to “Stop the Cycle of Abuse” at www.stopthecycle.net, and help children and their families who are hurt by abuse.

September 17

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow announced that a veteran of the U.S. Army and theU.S. Air Force will be the first person to graduate from the Will CountyVeterans Court.

Walter McCann, 67, of Wilmington,who has struggled with alcoholism throughout his life and the more than 35years since he was honorably discharged from the Air Force, will graduate fromthe Veterans Court during a ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 26 at JolietCity Hall, 150 W. Jefferson Street in downtown Joliet.

In addition to McCann, 12other people will graduate from the Will County Drug Court program during theSept. 26 ceremony. Veterans Court functions as a program within the Will CountyDrug Court. Over the past 13 years, Drug Court team has helped more than 300people kick their addictions and avoid felony convictions for non-violentcrimes they have committed.

The 12 Drug Court members who will graduate arefrom Channahon,Frankfort, Romeoville, Plainfield, Waukegan, Joliet, Crest Hill, Wilmingtonand Elgin.

State’s Attorney Glasgowworked with the local Judiciary, including former Chief Judge Gerald Kinney andpresiding Drug Court Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes, to establish theVeterans Court in May of 2012.  The court is designed to provide treatment,counseling and assistance to local veterans who have struggled with mentalhealth and substance abuse disorders – in many cases as a direct result oftheir dedicated service to our country – since returning home from militaryoperations.

The Judiciary and the State’s Attorney’s Office havepartnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Edward Hines Jr. VAHospital, the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County, the Center forCorrectional Concerns, the Will County Health Department and the Will CountyPublic Defender’s Office to provide veterans with the treatment and mentalhealth services they need to complete the program and restore their lives.

“Thousands of veterans havereturned home over the years suffering from substance abuse problems or mentalhealth disorders including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or depression,” saidState’s Attorney Glasgow. “Oftentimes, these disorders can be attributed totheir heroic actions in preserving our liberty. We enjoy extraordinary freedomsbecause of their sacrifices. As a result, when they come in contact with ourjustice system, we have an obligation to acknowledge their service and providethem with the treatment and counseling necessary for them to regain theirlives.”

McCann joined the Army in1965 at the age of 18 and was stationed first in Korea and later inGermany.  After his discharge, McCann enlisted in the Air Force in 1977and served until 1981.

A carpenter by trade, McCannstruggled with alcohol abuse. However, he has been able to maintain sobrietyfor extended periods during his adult life. He was facing a charge of unlawfulpossession of a firearm when he began Veterans Court. The charge is expected tobe dismissed upon his graduation next week.

The graduation ceremony is open to the public. Veteransorganizations are encouraged to attend. Free parking is available on the sixthlevel of the Harrah’s Casino Parking Deck on Jefferson Street across from CityHall.

August 27

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that three men each have been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for committing a home invasion in University Park in 2011.

Larnell Weston, 29, of Dixmoor, and Ternell Weston, 26, of Calumet Park, were both sentenced to 23 years in prison by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak. The judge sentenced Raunchino James, 27, of Chicago Heights, to 21 years in prison.

The three men were convicted of home invasion, residential burglary and armed robbery at the conclusion of a bench trial in January.

The three men kicked in the door of a University Park residence where a woman and her 12-year-old son were living in the early-morning hours of Feb. 19, 2011. They pointed guns at the woman and her son and demanded money. The men then ransacked the residence and fled with cash, an Xbox gaming system, video games, a laptop, a camera, a camcorder and other items. The son pleaded with the three not to hurt his mother.

University Park Police canvassed a nearby wooded area and spotted three men fitting the description of the suspects. They saw the men flee into an apartment building and arrested them there.

State’s Attorney Glasgow credited prosecutors Frank Byers and Tom Slazyk with putting three dangerous men in prison.

“Our citizens have an absolute right to feel safe inside their homes,” he said. “These three armed thugs not only stole cash and belongings from these innocent people, they completely violated their sense of security, and for that they are going to prison for a long time.”    

August 21

JOLIET – Will County State’sAttorney James Glasgow announced that a Joliet man has been convicted of murderin connection with the shooting death of a man inside the Lois Place apartmentcomplex in 2009.

A jury deliberated for roughly six hours before finding Jesus Zambrano, 23, guilty of one count offirst-degree murder for the killing of Robert Gooch on May 22, 2009. The juryreached its verdict on Tuesday evening.

Another man, Pedro Sanchez, alsoof Joliet, already has been convicted of first-degree murder in connection withthis shooting and is serving a 61-year prison sentence.

Zambrano faces between 35 and75 years in prison when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak onOct. 23. He is eligible for an enhanced sentence because the state proved he wasarmed with a firearm during the commission of this murder.

Zambrano and Sanchez confrontedGooch at the apartment of Gooch’s girlfriend, Ellissa Hinton, according to trialtestimony. Hinton testified she was having sex occasionally with Sanchez, butthat she wouldn’t allow their relationship to go further by leaving Gooch.

Hinton testified she and Goochhad watched the NBA playoffs and had gone to bed on the night of the murder.Later that evening, Gooch answered the apartment’s buzzer while she remained inthe bedroom. She testified she heard Sanchez’s voice in the living room andsomeone saying “my girl” just before she heard a single gunshot.

She went to the living roomto find Gooch lying on the floor bleeding from the head. An autopsy later revealedGooch died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Gooch’s two youngchildren were sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room at the time of themurder.

“In a despicable act ofbrutality, Zambrano and Sanchez gunned down an unarmed man while his twochildren were sleeping in the same room,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Thanksto a first-rate investigation by the Joliet Police Department and top-notchtrial work by two fine prosecutors, it will be a long time before JesusZambrano can even begin to think about walking our streets.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys DanWalsh and Tricia McKenna entered into evidence security tapes from the apartmentcomplex showing Zambrano and Sanchez arriving at the parking lot in the Sanchez’scar, getting out of the vehicle and then returning to the car before drivingaway. A witness testified he saw Zambrano retrieve an object from under thehood of Sanchez’s car before the two entered the apartment complex. Zambranoand Sanchez were caught on video running from the building after Gooch wasshot.

Glasgow also thanked hischief investigator, Jim Stewart, for going the extra mile to locate a reluctantwitness whose testimony was crucial to the successful prosecution of this case.

August 8

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow announced today that Jason R. Rymut, 32, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing a drunken driving collision that killed a Manhattan man in 2012.

Rymut, of 24956 S.Clare Circle, Manhattan, slammed his Chevrolet Malibu into the rear bumper of a vehicle driven by Bryan Bulger, 26, while it was idling at a stop sign on August 8, 2012. The force of the impact sent Bulger’s Chevrolet Camaro flying into a third vehicle in the intersection. Bulger suffered masssive head and body injuries that killed him instantly.

Bulger’s girlfriend, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the Camaro, survived with minor injuries. The driver of the third car was uninjured.

Before the impact, Rymut was using his cell phone as he sped down Cedar Road in Manhattan at speeds reaching 86 miles-per-hour, according to a black box recorder in his vehicle. He was traveling 83 miles-per-hour when he struck Bulger’s car.

At Silver Cross hospital, Rymut’s blood was drawn and his blood-alcohol content was .121. Police officers also smelled alcohol on his breath.

Bulger’s father had given him the 1978 Chevrolet Camaro that he was driving the night he died after he had received his Master’s Degree in criminology. Bulger and his father enjoyed working together to restore the vehicle to its original state, according to testimony at Rymut’s sentencing hearing.

Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak announced the sentence after the defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol on April 18.

State’s Attorney Glasgow credited prosecutor Jim Long for securing the conviction and sentence.

“Jason Rymut’s decision to drive drunk showed a callous disregard for the safety of other motorists, and his actions cost a young man his life,” Glasgow said. “He should spend his long years in prison contemplating the horrific results of his collision.”