Man gets life in prison for bludgeoning deaths in double murder case

December 13

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow today announced that a Bourbonnais man who was convicted in the double murder of a man and woman bludgeoned to death in a Joliet auto body shop in 2016 has been sentenced to life in prison. William N. Krasawski, 43, was sentenced Wednesday by Circuit Judge David Carlson for the killing of Michael Oram, 48, of Joliet, and Jamie Wills, 43, of Lockport. 

Prosecutors had said Krasawski spent the day of March 8, 2016, smoking crack cocaine with the victims inside Fleet Specialty Painting and Auto body shop on Cass Street, and used a pipe wrench and hammer to bludgeon the victims to death. The two bodies were discovered inside the body shop the following morning by Oram’s brother, Doug Oram, Jr., and Oram’s father, who were the owners of the body shop. 

At trial, Krasawski’s mother testified that Krasawski came to her home March 9 asking for money and the title to his car, telling her that she might not see him for a long while. Additionally, his sister testified that he called asking her to bring him a change of clothes to a hotel in Chicago Heights. Police later found him at that hotel.

The jury arrived at the guilty verdicts in June after deliberating for just over two hours.

“William Krasawski violently murdered two people in cold blood, and for this terrible crime he has been sentenced to spend the remainder of his life in prison,” stated Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow. “A dangerous criminal with no regard for human life will spend the rest of his life behind bars where he will never again have the opportunity to viciously attack another innocent person.”

Glasgow credited the Joliet Police Department and Detectives Aaron Bandy and Jeff German for their detailed and professional investigation that enabled prosecutors to put the defendant behind bars. He also praised Assistant State’s Attorneys Mike Fitzgerald, Dan Egan, and Jeff Tuminello for securing the verdicts and sentence against this violent criminal.


Glasgow Taps Accomplished Journalist, Government Administrator, and Attorney to Spearhead Groundbreaking Community Initiatives

November 27

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow today announced that he has created a new position to assist him in advancing community crime prevention and justice initiatives, engaging with members of the community, creating partnerships, and communicating with the public and media. 

“The Director of Public Affairs, Community Engagement and Partnerships will aid in the important role of bringing together members of our community in my continuing efforts to serve the people of Will County,” Glasgow said. “We will expand on existing programs that utilize creative solutions that offer justice and compassion to crime victims, rehabilitation for non-violent offenders who seek a self-sustaining, law-abiding life, and a hand-up to those who need assistance in building their future as part of our community.”

Glasgow has tapped highly skilled and respected attorney, Carole Cheney, to fill the newly created position. Cheney was a litigation partner at the acclaimed international law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP before leaving the firm for a position as District Chief of Staff to Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11). Previously, Cheney was a news director and anchored broadcasts at a national public radio affiliate, and served as press secretary for the Illinois Senate. She was also the national news media coordinator for the National Safety Council, a nationwide not-for-profit organization. 

She graduated from Northwestern University School of Law where she achieved the prestigious honor of being named Editor-in Chief of the Law Review and was accorded membership in the honorary scholastic society Order of the Coif. Thereafter, she was chosen for the position as judicial Clerk with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She previously received a master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois in Springfield, and a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana. 

According to Glasgow, “With her legal, communications, and government affairs background, as well as her genuine compassion for the human condition, Ms. Cheney brings to the table a skill set that will assist me in further enhancing the services I have worked diligently to provide for the people of Will County – whether it is taking care of our veterans, helping victims of abuse, drafting legislative initiatives to protect our citizens and animals, or working with the members of our non-profit organizations to assist the at-risk community.”

“Through this new position, we will build upon the foundation I have already established in developing innovative programs and forming creative partnerships to protect and serve the people of Will County,” Glasgow said.

The new position will replace the Director of the Bureau of Crime Prevention and Public Access post held by Chuck Pelkie, who next week will begin a position in the office of the Will County Clerk. 

As Will County’s longest-serving State’s Attorney, Glasgow has implemented a variety of groundbreaking initiatives to investigate, prosecute, and prevent crime. Glasgow’s initiatives include having established a high technology crimes unit to identify internet child predators, the creation of the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center to protect child sexual abuse victims and prosecute their abusers, spearheading numerous innovative specialized courts including the Drug Court, Veterans Court, Domestic Violence Court, Mental Health Court, and Redeploy Court, and the creation of the Extraordinary League of Canines – an all-inclusive program to protect domestic animals in Will County. 

Under Glasgow’s leadership, the office has maintained a felony conviction rate 15 points higher than the state average while serving the public with innovative programs to address community justice needs.


State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Crimes Against Children Unit assists in investigation, arrest of man charged with soliciting minor

October 3

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that his Crimes Against Children Unit played a major role in the investigation and arrest of a Bradley man on charges alleging the suspect solicited someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl from Virginia for sex.

Martin Franklin Walter Bollhorst, 54, was arrested Tuesday as part of a joint operation by State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Crimes Against Children Unit, the Fairfax County (VA) Police Department, the Bradley Police Department, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department, the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Bollhorst was arrested on four felony counts from Virginia alleging he used a mobile communication device to solicit a child. The alleged victim in this case was actually the persona of a 13-year-old girl that Detective Robert Bauer of the Fairfax County Police Department had created to capture online predators.

The detective began communicating with the defendant during a multijurisdictional traveler operation that began in July. During online conversations, the defendant is alleged in charges to have made direct sexual overtures toward the individual he believe to be an underage girl.

State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Crimes Against Children Unit Investigator, Megan Brooks, working with the Fairfax County Police Department, assisted in tracking the defendant’s IP address. She also visited a Bradley bar the defendant frequents, where she conducted surveillance to match his live description with digital photos he had sent to the Fairfax County detective. In addition, Investigator Dan Simenson from the Crimes Against Children Unit assisted during the execution of the search warrant. 

State’s Attorney Glasgow’s Crimes Against Children Unit became involved in the case at the request of the Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which had been assisting Fairfax County in the case. 

“Our children are sacred. If we are to protect them, we must be willing and ready to lend our expertise to any outside agency that is building a case to take a child predator off the streets,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Megan Brooks is a resourceful investigator who I have directed to extend her hand in cooperation with law enforcement throughout the country when necessary and appropriate.”

Brooks also is the handler of Cache, a 75-pound Black Labrador that is trained to detect hidden electronic devices that may be used by suspects to store illegal child pornography. Brooks and Cache have assisted in the execution of dozens of search warrants for agencies that include the FBI, U.S. Probation, and Homeland Security to name a few. State’s Attorney Glasgow makes Cache available to assist other agencies because the dog is one of only two in Illinois with that specific training.

Bollhorst currently is awaiting extradition to Virginia.


U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Drew Peterson appeal

October 1

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow was pleased but not surprised to learn today that Drew Peterson’s petition to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court has been denied.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday announced it has denied Peterson’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari. The denial means the U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal of Peterson’s case, a decision that effectively ends the direct appeal of any issues in his case. The defendant still has the option of pursuing other post-conviction relief in the courts.

Drew Peterson’s conviction already has been unanimously upheld on direct appeal by the Illinois Third District Court of Appeals as well as the Illinois Supreme Court. Both the Third District Court of Appeals and the Illinois Supreme Court, after thoroughly reviewing all issues raised by the defense on appeal, scrutinizing the entire trial record, and hearing oral arguments, found no error in the trial court record.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruling also included a detailed review of State’s Attorney Glasgow’s lawful use of hearsay statements from Peterson’s murdered third wife, Kathleen Savio, as well as his missing fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. The State’s Attorney entered these statements into evidence at trial under the legal concept of Forfeiture by Wrongdoing, which allows prosecutors to use certain hearsay statements from witnesses if the defendant deliberately made those witnesses unavailable to prevent them from testifying.

State’s Attorney Glasgow used those hearsay statements against Peterson at trial under rules affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Giles v. California and by the Illinois Supreme Court in People v. Hanson.

“The statements I lawfully used as evidence to convict Drew Peterson at his murder trial were both relevant and probative,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Peterson thought the threats he made to Kathleen Savio – that he would kill her and make it look like an accident – had died with her. And he thought the statements he had made to his young fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, had vanished along with her in 2007. But by applying the constitutionally sound concept of Forfeiture by Wrongdoing, Kathleen was able to testify from the grave against her murderer, and Stacy was able to refute Peterson’s alibi for Kathleen’s murder.”

The State’s Attorney continued: “The many successes in the appeals process have been vindications of my decision to pursue a prosecution that initially had been criticized by many legal professionals and those in the media. More importantly, they have been victories for the families of Kathleen Savio and Stacy Peterson against a notorious murderer who always felt he could act outside and above the law.”


State’s Attorney Glasgow to host Child Sex Trafficking Summit/

August 13

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow will host a Child Sex Trafficking Summit in September during which Will County community leaders will discuss steps already being taken to protect our children and outline future strategies to end this horrific exploitation.

The summit, which the State’s Attorney is hosting in conjunction with the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center and the National Criminal Justice Training Center, will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 7 at the Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St., in downtown Joliet.

The summit is designed for law enforcement officials, educators, business and industry leaders, prosecutors, child welfare advocates/DCFS, probation professionals, victim services advocates, and elected officials.

State’s Attorney Glasgow established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 to improve investigations into child sexual abuse. Children who have been sexually abused come to the Center to provide recorded statements to specially trained and compassionate forensic interviewers. The Center also provides counseling as well as referrals to other medical and social services so the healing process for these vulnerable victims can begin.

“The Children’s Advocacy Center has been working for more than two decades to provide hope, healing, and justice for abused children,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Through this summit, we are expanding our efforts to end the systematic sexual exploitation of our children and remove dangerous child predators from our community.”

As part of this initiative, State’s Attorney Glasgow and the Children’s Advocacy Center have formed a Will County Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Coalition. The State’s Attorney also has designated a specialized Child Sexual Exploitation Advocate to provide case management support and advocacy to youths who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation.

The State’s Attorney also implemented a high technology Crimes Against Children Unit in 2012 to track and prosecute predators who trade child pornography online. Research has documented disturbing links between those who exploit children by collecting and trading sexually abusive images and those who are hands-on abusers. The unit has uncovered a number of cases involving defendants who were actually producing child pornography and who were hands-on abusers. The team’s critical work has enabled the Children’s Advocacy to identify and help children even before they make an outcry of sexual abuse or a law enforcement/DCFS investigation begins.

September’s Child Sex Trafficking Summit will include facilitated discussions on identifying and rescuing victims of child sex trafficking as well as services that are available to victims. State’s Attorney Glasgow will provide lunch to everyone who attends.

The summit is free. However, participants must register online in advance at willcountycac.org. Deadline to register is Aug. 24. For additional information, call (815) 723-1630.


Shorewood man gets 24 years for Drug Induced Homicide

July 27

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that a Shorewood man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for supplying the heroin that caused the overdose death of a young woman.

At the conclusion of a bench trial, Circuit Judge Dave Carlson in October found Dwight Musson, 38, guilty of Drug Induced Homicide and Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. The defendant faced a minimum of six years with a maximum of 30 years in prison for his crimes.

Judge Carlson handed down the sentence on Friday. He also sentenced Musson to 11 years for the Unlawful Delivery charge. The law requires that this sentence be served concurrently with the Drug Induced Homicide sentence. 

Musson, who was 34 at the time, had agreed to meet with the victim, who was 18, on June 28, 2013 so they could ingest heroin, according to trial testimony. The defendant lied to police, telling them he and the victim had gone together to purchase the heroin.

However, text messages entered into evidence at trial by Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Fitzgerald and Peter Wilkes revealed that the defendant already had the heroin in his vehicle when he drove to meet the woman. These text messages proved that Musson was actually the dealer of the dangerous narcotic.

Musson callously left the unconscious and unresponsive victim in bed at his Shorewood home the following morning when he left for work. When he returned in the early afternoon and still could not revive her, Musson drove the victim to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center. The hospital staff’s efforts to revive her with Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, were unsuccessful. She died four days later.

“This is the most sinister and diabolical unlawful delivery of heroin case that we have successfully prosecuted,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Dwight Musson preyed upon an innocent young girl and then literally left her to die.”

The State’s Attorney continued: “We have deployed every available resource to stop this deadly heroin epidemic in Will County and to discourage people from using this dangerous narcotic. However, in this case, make no mistake that this young impressionable girl was killed by this treacherous predator, who abused her with no concern for her well-being. This lengthy and substantial sentence absolutely fits the crime, but nothing can ever compensate for the tragic death of this promising young girl.”

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed Drug Induced Homicide charges in 17 cases over the past nine years. These are often the most difficult and labor intensive cases to investigate and prosecute because the most critical witness to the delivery of the heroin is the deceased.

Including Musson, the State’s Attorney’s Office has secured convictions against 10 defendants for sentences totaling 89.5 years.

State’s Attorney Glasgow thanked the Shorewood Police Department for its dedicated and thorough investigation as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Fitzgerald, the Chief of Major Crimes, and Wilkes, Chief of the Narcotics Prosecution Unit, for securing this important conviction and sentence.


10th annual Men Who Cook shifts gears to Chicagoland Speedway location; professional/commercial cook category added to wildly popular fundraiser

July 24

State’s Attorney Glasgow to present Glen Marcum Award to Pipefitters Local 597

JOLIET – The organizers for Men Who Cook, hit the road this year looking for a larger space to accommodate the expanding number of chefs and diners who race to what has become Will County’s most popular community event.

The fundraiser, which benefits the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, is shifting gears and moving to the sprawling infield at Chicagoland Speedway from 6-9 p.m., Sept. 22. The move will give hungry guests more elbow room to sample the fine cuisine – appetizers, side dishes, entrees, and desserts – prepared and served by more than 50 local amateur cooks.

“I thought it would be impossible for Men Who Cook to outgrow the expansive and friendly accommodations we called home at the Pipefitters Training Center for the past seven years,” said State’s Attorney James Glasgow, who chairs the center’s board of directors. “It’s a testament to the popularity of the event that this is the third facility we’ve outgrown. Last year the dining area was on the verge of being overcrowded by guests and we outstripped our allotted parking.”

The State’s Attorney continued: “The popularity of this event presented us with a bittersweet dilemma because the Pipefitters provided such a great venue as well as their team of dedicated apprentices who helped this fundraiser run smoothly. It was truly hard to even begin thinking of holding Men Who Cook anywhere else.”

The State’s Attorney will present the Glen Marcum Selfless Dedication To Community Service Award to Pipefitters Local 597 for supporting Men Who Cook. The honor, which is named after the late Glen Marcum, a former Joliet Park Board president and a devoted community volunteer, is presented each year to individuals or groups demonstrating selfless support for the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Moving to Chicagoland Speedway will resolve the space crunch and provide new opportunities in a unique setting. There will be endless parking at the Speedway as well as additional space on the infield to accommodate more cooks and guests.

This year, organizers also are coordinating a Professional/Commercial Chef division for those who work at restaurants or other eating establishments.

Guests will have photo opportunities with a NASCAR race car in Victory Lane. And they can sample all the great food in an outdoor setting with a view of the illuminated grandstand, providing an early fall, alfresco dining atmosphere in which to relax and socialize.

Men Who Cook is a favorite of all ages and provides critical financial support for the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides hope, healing, and justice for sexually abused children. With more than 1,100 attendees last year, Men Who Cook is widely recognized as the largest and most popular, single-day fundraising event in Will County.

This fun and casual cook-off competition features more than 50 local guys – leaders in business, construction, accounting/finance, law enforcement, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, government, education, and media – serving samples of their favorite dishes for public judging. 

State’s Attorney Glasgow and the Children’s Advocacy Center also are proud that CITGO Refinery will be a Presenting Sponsor for the 2018 Men Who Cook. CITGO recently made a $10,000 contribution to the fundraiser. Sponsorship opportunities are available at the www.menwhocook.info.

State’s Attorney Glasgow established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 to guarantee successful investigations of child sexual abuse cases. The center’s professionally trained and compassionate staff performs child-sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. Children’s recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of thousands of predators. Local police called the center “a Godsend” when it was formed more than 20 years ago. 

The cost for “Men Who Cook” is $40 per person; $75 per couple. The price is $10 for children between 6 and 12; kids 5 and under can attend for free. And of course, there’s no need to dress up for this casual, fun and affordable event.

Tickets for “Men Who Cook” are available online at www.menwhocook.info or they can be purchased at the door. For additional information, call the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at (815) 774-4565. Or visit on the Web at www.menwhocook.info or on Facebook at facebook.com/willcountycac.


Will County Adult Redeploy Illinois Court receives increased state funding, honors from National Association of Counties

July 19

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney Glasgow is pleased to announce the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has increased funding for Will County Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) Court by $66,591 this year bringing the state grant total to $450,944.

State’s Attorney Glasgow and Problem Solving Courts Coordinator Julie McCabe-Sterr display the 2018 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. The honor was presented to Will County Adult Redeploy Illinois for adopting “a holistic court solution to the chronic reoffender.”

The additional funding will enable the State’s Attorney’s local Problem Solving Courts to significantly expand the services they provide to qualifying defendants, many of whom struggle with addiction to opioids or other narcotics. The goal of these courts is to help defendants kick their addictions, avoid felony criminal convictions, find work, and return to their communities and families as productive citizens.

The ARI grant will enable the Problem Solving Courts to provide more substance abuse treatment services, increase drug testing for participants, and expand monitoring of participants through SCRAM alcohol ankle bracelets.

In addition, the expanded grants will allow the Problems Solving Courts to provide: 

  • Additional outside professional counseling for those without insurance for issues unrelated to substance abuse, such as grief, anger management, parenting, and depression. 
  • Bus and train passes for participants to get to court, counseling, and work during their first month in the program.
  • Forklift training to increase defendants’ skills in the job market.
  • Fitness equipment to encourage participants to begin leading healthy lifestyles and to improve their self-esteem.
  • And increased training opportunities for Problem Solving Court staff.

“The expansion of state grant funding is a testament to the effectiveness of the ARI program and all of our Problem Solving Courts, including Drug Court, Veterans Court, and Mental Health Court,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “These extraordinary courts and my Problem Solving Courts professionals are on the front line in the battle against the opioid epidemic, and we are restoring lives that have been ravaged by addiction.”

The State’s Attorney added: “Our Problem Solving Courts succeed on two critical fronts. On one level, the program provides the necessary treatment and counseling services to help non-violent offenders deal effectively with the addictions and mental health issues that drove them to commit their crimes in the first place. On a larger scale, these courts help the entire community by turning around the lives of people who once had been a financial burden on society. Everyone benefits when a defendant stops committing crimes and becomes a productive citizen who holds a job, pursues an education, owns a home, raises a family and pays taxes.”

The effectiveness of these courts in Will County has been noticed at the national level. Recently, the National Association of Counties presented Will County Adult Redeploy Illinois with the 2018 achievement award for adopting “a holistic court solution to the chronic reoffender.”

Drug Court, Veterans Court, and Mental Health Court all have defendants whose participation is funded through the ARI grant. In addition, there is a separate Adult Redeploy Illinois Court call for offenders who have longer and more complicated criminal histories.

State’s Attorney Glasgow was one of the first state’s attorney’s to fully embrace the value of the Problem Solving Courts model. He spearheaded the creation of the Will County Drug Court in the late 1990s, and he filed a petition with the 12th Judicial Circuit in 2012 to establish the Will County Veterans Court. Veterans Court provides treatment, counseling and assistance to local

Plainfield man gets 12 life sentences for sexually abusing two young children over a 10-year period

July 17

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney Glasgow announces that a Plainfield man who sexually abused two young children over a period of 10 years received 12 consecutive life sentences for his crimes.

A jury in March found David B. Libby, 52, guilty of 12 counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. The defendant was sentenced by Circuit Judge Sarah Jones on Thursday. Under Illinois law, a conviction on each Class X Felony carries a mandatory life sentence, and the sentences must run consecutively. 

Libby, who had unrestricted access to the children, began sexually assaulting the children when they were young. The assaults began in 2004 and continued through 2014. The sexual abuse came to light when an alert teacher contacted the school social worker after one of the children made a troubling comment on a written test. The student eventually reported the abuse to the social worker, who contacted Plainfield Police.

“David Libby is a vile monster who engaged in the repeated and horrific sexual abuse of two children from a time when they were very young and impressionable,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “It took tremendous courage for them to come forward and testify against this vile and unrepentant predator. They helped police and prosecutors place him behind bars where he will never harm another child and where he will certainly draw his final breath.”

Libby admitted to sexually assaulting the children when he was interviewed by police.

The State’s Attorney noted it was a team effort that took Libby off the streets. He credited Plainfield Police for conducting a first-rate investigation and his prosecutors, Mary Fillipitch and Kelly Tebo, for their skilled trial work that secured the conviction and life sentence.

He also applauded the staff at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, including forensic interviewer Jaclyn Lundquist, for obtaining recorded statements from the two children that sealed the defendant’s fate, as well as the director of his Victim Witness Services Office, Nichole Pasteris, who guided these children through a lengthy and difficult court process.

And he thanked Cheri Johnson, who supervises the handling of his team of therapy dogs, Kiwi, Jackson, and Mally. The dogs comforted the children at each step in the court proceedings.


Man gets 10 years for sexually assaulting babysitter

June 18

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that a Joliet man who sexually assaulted his young son’s teenage babysitter was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday.

Victor Reyes-Jacobo, 34, pleaded guilty to Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class 1 Felony, in March. Circuit Judge Sarah Jones handed down the sentence.

The defendant sexually assaulted the young girl while she was sleeping on the couch in his living room overnight on Dec. 4, 2015. The girl had been babysitting for the defendant while his wife, who also was home at the time, was recovering from back surgery.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Tebo argued during the sentencing hearing that the defendant began sexually assaulting the girl while she was sleeping and his wife was incapacitated in another room. In addition, his infant son had cried out for his father during the incident.

“This young girl was a guest in the defendant’s house, and she was helping him and his wife during a difficult time,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “In an act of abject depravity, Victor Reyes-Jacobo violated her trust and that of his debilitated wife and his helpless baby son by sexually assaulting a defenseless young girl who believed she was completely safe inside his home.”

The girl fled the house after the assault and frantically called her parents on her mobile telephone. Her mother called police. The young girl gave a detailed statement at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center about the incident.

The State’s Attorney praised Tebo for securing the guilty plea and sentence and Will County Sheriff’s deputies for their thorough investigation.