State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces $450,000 Federal Grant For Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

November 22, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) has been selected to receive a $450,000 federal Victim of Crime Assistance (VOCA) grant. This money will be used to help fund the life-changing services the CAC provides, including forensic interviews, victim and family advocacy, and trauma-focused therapy for children who have endured severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect, and exposure to violence. The grant is effective for FY 2020.

“The services the Children’s Advocacy Center provides are truly life restoring for the child sexual abuse victims who walk through our doors,” Glasgow said. “These children are emotionally scarred, and without this specialized, compassionate intervention their lives will be destroyed. That is why I was so passionate in establishing the CAC in 1995. Since then, more than 9,000 children and their non-offending family members have received supportive services. Last year alone, the CAC helped more than 660 children from throughout Will County and the numbers are growing each year. The compassionate and caring staff at the CAC helps each of these young abuse victims on their path to a better life.”

VOCA funding allows CACs and other victim service organizations to receive money paid as penalties by those convicted of federal crimes, which goes into an account called the Crime Victims Fund, or CVF. Congress then gives this money to states which allocate the money to organizations that serve crime victims.

“The award of this highly competitive grant recognizes the outstanding services provided by Will County’s CAC,” Glasgow said. “The Illinois legislature has declared that our most precious resource is our children, and at the CAC we truly ‘CHERISH ALL CHILDREN.’ This grant will allow the Children’s Advocacy Center to continue responding to the severe emotional, psychological and physical needs of the many child victims served each year, as well as to continue maintaining our high success rate in the prosecution of child predators who sexually abuse youngsters. We must stop sexual predators dead in their tracks so they can never do this again.”

In addition to the CAC’s highly compassionate counseling services, the multidisciplinary team plays an indispensable role in the prosecution of child predators who sexually abuse vulnerable minors. When an outcry of child sexual assault is received by local police, no further interrogation is conducted and an interview is scheduled with the CAC. After a child is brought to the CAC, a trained forensic interviewer–working in conjunction with a police investigator from a local jurisdiction, specialized sex crime prosecutors from the Will County State’s Attorney’s office, a caseworker from the Department of Children and Family Services, and a CAC counselor–conducts a neutral, non-suggestive victim sensitive interview of the child.

“Without the CAC, the child may end up having to tell the worst story of their life over and over again, to police, medical professionals, attorneys, therapists, investigators, judges, and others. This invariably results in inconsistent statements, which are the death knell for a criminal prosecution,” Glasgow said. “At the CAC, the child tells their story only once, to a trained interviewer who is witnessed by the members of the multidisciplinary team. The trained interviewer knows the proper questions to ask in a way that does not re-traumatize the victim or suggest an answer, which guarantees a thorough and truthful statement.”

Just last month, this approach resulted in two significant prison sentences in Will County child sexual assault cases: a 118-year prison sentence for Chandel Dirkans of Joliet who savagely engaged in multiple aggravated criminal sexual assaults against the minor stepdaughter of his sister in the home in which they both resided; and an 84-year prison sentence against Anthony Creasy of Joliet for repeated acts of predatory sexual assault of his girlfriend’s daughter in the child’s home over a period of several years beginning when she was approximately 8 years old.

According to Glasgow, “[t]hese convictions were the result of the work of the entire multidisciplinary team, culminating with the courtroom prosecution of these child predators by the highly skilled sex crimes prosecutors in the Will County State’s Attorney’s office.”

Glasgow Announces Eduardo Avila Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Fatal 2017 Hit and Run of Tricia Hoyt

November 14, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that Circuit Court Judge Dave Carlson today sentenced Eduardo Avila, 21, to nine years in prison for the 2017 fatal hit and run of then-35-year-old Tricia Hoyt in Bolingbrook. Avila pled guilty on October 25, 2019 to one count of failure to report an accident involving serious injury or death. The Frankfort woman was struck by the 2002 Honda Accord that Avila of Cicero was driving on November 4, 2017, after she had left a party in Bolingbrook. Her body was found shortly after noon the following day in a grassy area off Frontage Road in Bolingbrook. Avila had been charged with failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death and failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death. He turned himself into authorities approximately a week after the accident had occurred.

“Sadly, no one will ever know whether Tricia Hoyt could have survived had authorities been contacted when the accident first occurred and had she not been left lying overnight in an isolated grassy area,” Glasgow said. “Our aggressive prosecution of this matter and today’s sentence sends the clear message that leaving the scene of a hit and run will bring severe consequences. This matter is heartbreaking for everyone involved. This young man in a single moment changed his life and the life of so many others by thinking only about himself rather than thinking about trying to saving the victim he hit with his car.”

Glasgow praised Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Slazyk and Victim Advocate Nichole Pasteris for their hard work and dedication. 

Glasgow Announces 118-Year Prison Sentence for Chandel Dirkans, Joliet Man Who Committed Multiple Criminal Sexual Assaults in 2015 Against Joliet Teen

October 28, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that Chandel Dirkans, 37, was sentenced today by Circuit Judge David Carlson to 118 years in prison for multiple criminal sexual assaults against a Joliet teenager in 2015. Dirkans was found guilty in August 2019 on 17 counts, including 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, 5 counts of criminal sexual assault, 1 count of aggravated unlawful restraint, and 1 count of aggravated domestic battery against the female juvenile. He also previously pled guilty to one count of “armed habitual criminal.” The victim was 16 at the time, and the acts occurred inside the home in which they both resided on the 600 block of Grant Street.

“This young woman lived through a horrendous nightmare in her own home when Dirkans brutally and repeatedly sexually assaulted her,” Glasgow said. “The sentence handed down today drives a stake straight through the heart of the beast. This savage predator will never have the opportunity to brutalize another young woman.”

Dirkans, the brother of the victim’s stepmother, sexually assaulted the teenager five times over a nearly three-hour period on November 5, 2015, while other family members were at work. The victim testified that Dirkans, whose neck bears a “P*ssy Monster” tattoo with a picture of a mouth, lips and tongue, placed her in a chokehold and dragged her into an upstairs bedroom  at which time she lost consciousness. After she regained consciousness, Dirkans said to her, “You’re either going to let me F*** you, or I’m going to kill you.” He then proceeded to sexually assault her while wielding a black-handled knife.

The victim further testified that Dirkans led her downstairs to the kitchen, where he grabbed a red-handled knife and plastic wrap and sexually assaulted her twice, utilizing the plastic wrap as a condom. Dirkans then led the victim to the basement where his bedroom was located, and twice sexually assaulted her.

Following the assaults, Dirkans forced the victim into a vehicle and drove her around. He drove her back to the residence and threatened that he could kill her if he wanted to as they sat parked in the driveway. He eventually released her from the vehicle. Dirkans surrendered to police after a multiple-hours standoff during which he had barricaded himself in the home. Judge Carlson found Dirkans guilty on all counts presented at the four-day bench trial.

At the time of the assaults, Dirkans was on parole for a 2009 conviction for residential burglary. He also had previous convictions for unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon, robbery and burglary.

Glasgow credited the entire team for the result in this case: prosecutors Kelly Tebo, Thomas Slazyk, and Elizabeth Domagalla; the entire Joliet Police Department with special thanks to John Ross and Shawn Filipiak; victim witness advocate Nichole Pasteris; and Jackie Lundquist, who conducted the victim sensitive interview at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Defendant Anthony Creasy Receives 84-Year Prison Sentence for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of Girlfriend’s Daughter Spanning Years

October 17, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that 36-year-old Anthony Creasy of Joliet has been sentenced to 84 years in prison for repeated acts of predatory sexual assault of a minor girl in her home over a period of several years beginning when the girl was approximately 8 years old. Creasy was the boyfriend of the girl’s mother during the lengthy duration of the repeated sexual assaults.

A jury found Creasy guilty in December 2018 on four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, a Class X felony, after deliberating for just 70 minutes. Creasy was sentenced by Circuit Judge Daniel Kennedy to 21 years on each count to be served consecutively. As part of his sentence, Creasy must register for the rest of his life as a sex offender.

“Anthony Creasy is a morally bankrupt, craven coward who savagely preyed upon a young child during her most tender years,” Glasgow said. “The abject horror that this girl suffered on a daily basis as a result of the depraved conduct of this soulless predator is unimaginable. He deserves the decades he will spend in a cold prison cell, but unfortunately no punishment can restore the innocence and trust he stole from his young victim.”

The victim reported Creasy’s abuse to authorities after he married another woman with a young daughter and moved to Wisconsin because of her concerns that he might abuse the young girl in that household. That young girl was entering the age the Joliet victim had been when Creasy’s predatory sexual assaults began. Lead prosecutor Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Brown notified authorities in Wisconsin to begin an investigation into the matter.

“Jeff Brown’s tenacity and creativity led to the discovery and documentation through a search warrant of the critical identifying characteristics of the defendant that ensured this conviction,” Glasgow said.

“I commend this girl’s incredible courage in reporting her abuse in order to protect another innocent young girl,” said Glasgow. “Her testimony describing the unique piercings on Creasy in his private area and providing details of Creasy’s repeated sexual assaults upon her sealed his fate, and helped to shine a bright light on the truly horrific nature of predatory sexual assault of a child. The victim impact statement read by the victim at sentencing as she stared into the eyes of the defendant sums it up: ‘Anthony, you did not break me. You tried to hide my voice, but I found it. And now it is time for you to pay for your actions, not me.’”

Glasgow commended the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Multi-Disciplinary Team involved in the case, including Assistant State’s Attorneys Jeff Brown and Kelly Tebo, Joliet Police Department Detective Shawn Filipiak, Forensic Interviewer Jackie Lundquist, and Victim Witness Advocate Danette Pasdertz for their dedication and commitment. The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center was created by Glasgow in 1995 to provide hope, healing, and justice to sexually abused children and non-offending family members.

Defendant Sentenced to Seven Years for Driving Under Influence of Controlled Substance in 2017 Crash that Killed 16-Year-Old

October 11, 2019

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that 38-year-old Dustin Greiner of Park Forest has been sentenced by Circuit Judge David Carlson to seven years in prison for the death of a 16-year-old Beecher girl killed in a fatal car accident caused by Greiner while driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

The death occurred following an accident in which the vehicle Greiner was driving struck the back of the Ford Ranger in which the victim had been a passenger. The Ranger was pushed into oncoming traffic by Greiner’s vehicle and struck by a Dodge Ram on the passenger side where the 16-year-old girl was seated. A urine test following the deadly accident revealed the presence of cocaine in Greiner’s system.

Although Greiner’s license was suspended during the court proceedings, it was discovered that he drove on a suspended licensed after an initial sentencing hearing September 26.

“Through his arrogance and abject disregard for the court’s authority by driving on a suspended license after already killing a young woman by operating a vehicle with cocaine in his system, Greiner sealed his own fate,” Glasgow said. “Greiner’s selfish decision to use drugs and take the wheel of a vehicle stole the life of a young girl, shattered the lives of her parents, and caused devastating psychological damage to the victim’s boyfriend who was in the vehicle when she suffered her fatal injuries. Although Greiner’s prison sentence can never make up for the precious life that was taken, it can send a message that our office prosecutes impaired driving and disregard for our system of justice to the fullest extent of the law.”

Glasgow credited Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Slazyk who prosecuted the case, and Danette Pasdertz for her dedication in working with the victims.

State’s Attorney Glasgow and County Executive Walsh Announce $500,000 Federal Grant for Will County Drug Court

October 2, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Will County Executive Larry Walsh announce that the Will County Drug Court has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program. The grant submission was a cooperative effort of the offices of the Will County State’s Attorney and the Will County Executive.

“The award of this highly competitive grant is a testament to the excellence of Will County’s Drug Court Program,” Glasgow said. “These funds will be used to expand the number of individuals in the program, as well as to enhance the services we provide to those suffering from addiction. This grant allows us to continue providing outstanding services for those who are suffering as a result of the heroin epidemic that has swept our nation, so that these individuals may again become productive members of society.”

State’s Attorney Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the Drug Court in the late 1990s, when he wrote the grant leading to its formation. Since its inception, 481 individuals have graduated from the program.

“For more than 20 years, the Drug Court program established by State’s Attorney Glasgow has been offering a second chance to those with substance use disorders who have committed nonviolent crimes,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “I am proud to work with the State’s Attorney on a variety of programs to help individuals dealing with substance abuse. We must continue to do all we can to enable individuals to receive treatment and counseling so they can ultimately return to their families and jobs as successful members of our communities.”

Defendants in Will County Drug Court plead guilty up front, and criminal charges are dismissed if they complete the intensive program. Participants must remain drug free, submit to random drug tests, find work, follow through with treatment, and attend weekly counseling sessions.

The Drug Court was Will County’s first Program Solving Court. Glasgow also has established three residential facilities to further assist Problem Solving Court participants on their paths to reentry. The Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House offer temporary housing. The Connor Kelly Residence, which opened its doors earlier this year, provides longer-term transitional housing.

“Our Drug Court has helped integrate individuals with substance use disorders back into the community by helping them break the addictions that drove them to commit nonviolent offenses,” Glasgow said. “As a society, we must do all we can to help individuals get back on their feet.”

Glasgow Announces Joliet Man Found Guilty On All Counts In Case Involving Multiple Brutal Criminal Sexual Assaults Against Joliet Teenager

August 30, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that a judge today found Chandel Dirkans, 37, guilty of multiple criminal sexual assaults against a Joliet teenager in 2015. Circuit Court Judge David Carlson found Dirkans guilty on all 17 counts, including 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, 5 counts of criminal sexual assault, 1 count of aggravated unlawful restraint, and 1 count of aggravated domestic battery against the female juvenile, who was 16 at the time, inside the home in which they both resided on the 600 block of Grant Street.

The decision followed a four-day bench trial. Dirkans, the brother of the victim’s stepmother, sexually assaulted the teenager five times over a nearly three-hour period on November 5, 2015, while other family members were at work. The victim testified that Dirkans placed her in a chokehold and dragged her into an upstairs bedroom, at which time she lost consciousness. After she regained consciousness, Dirkans said to her, “You’re either going to let me F*** you, or I’m going to kill you.” He then proceeded to sexually assault her while wielding a black-handled knife.

The victim further testified that Dirkans led her downstairs to the kitchen, where he grabbed a red-handled knife and plastic wrap and sexually assaulted her twice, utilizing the plastic wrap as a condom. Dirkans then led the victim to the basement where his bedroom was located, and twice sexually assaulted her.

Following the assaults, Dirkans forced the victim into a vehicle and drove her around. He drove her back to the residence and talked about killing her as they sat parked in the driveway. He eventually released her from the vehicle. Dirkans surrendered to police after a multiple-hours standoff during which he had barricaded himself in the home.

“There is a special place in Hell reserved for Chandel Dirkans for brutally sexually assaulting and terrorizing a member of his own family within the walls of her own home, which should be a place of safety and comfort,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “This demonic assault violated every tenet of human decency when he repeatedly brutalized this young teenage girl on every level of her home. Just as this young woman must live with the effects of his cruel and inhuman conduct for the rest of her life, Dirkans should spend his days behind the cold steel bars of a prison cell for his barbaric and savage conduct.”

At the time of the assaults, Dirkans was on parole for a 2009 conviction for residential burglary. He also had previous convictions for unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon, robbery and burglary.

Dirkans is eligible for up to 140 years in prison. The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Glasgow credited prosecutors Kelly Tebo, Thomas Slazyk, and Elizabeth Domagalla for their hard work and dedication in obtaining the ruling in this case.

Glasgow Announces Nine Veterans Graduate Will County Veterans Court, Bringing Total To 40

August 21, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that nine veterans graduated from Will County’s Veterans Court in an August 21 ceremony at the Will County Office Building. Glasgow petitioned for the creation of the Veterans Court in 2012 to provide treatment, counseling, and assistance to local veterans who have struggled with mental health and substance abuse disorders since returning home from military operations.

The nine graduates served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. They hail from Mokena, Romeoville, Joliet, Hazel Crest, Dolton, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, and Beecher. This latest class brings to 40 the number of individuals who have graduated from the Will County Veterans Court. 

“All too often, veterans who have served our country suffer from substance abuse problems or mental health disorders stemming from their service,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Those of us in the criminal justice system have an obligation to acknowledge this service and provide our veterans with the treatment and counseling necessary for them to regain their lives.”

In addition to State’s Attorney Glasgow, Judge Daniel Rippy who presides over Veterans Court and Will County Problem Solving Court Coordinator Julie McCabe Sterr spoke at the ceremony.

The Veterans Court assists veterans by keeping non-violent offenders out of state prisons through counseling, substance abuse treatment, mental health therapy, and job location services. Through Veterans Court, veterans in the criminal justice system are offered an inter-agency, collaborative, non-adversarial treatment strategy. Participants are required to remain drug free, submit to random drug tests, find work, follow through with treatment and attend weekly counseling sessions.

In addition to the Veterans Court, Glasgow was instrumental in establishing the Will County Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Adult Redeploy Illinois Court.

State’s Attorney James Glasgow speaks to graduates at Veterans Court ceremony.
Color guard leads procession of graduating veterans at August 21 ceremony.

June 27 Ceremony Brings Number of Will County Drug Court Graduates to 481

June 27, 2019

Joliet – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that 16 individuals from throughout Will County graduated from the Will County Drug Court in a ceremony at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet, bringing to 481 the number of people who have graduated the Drug Court program. The individuals who participated in the ceremony hail from the communities of Joliet, Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Romeoville, New Lenox, Plainfield, Mokena, and Shorewood.

“The Will County Problem Solving Courts are a model for the nation,” Glasgow stated. “The journey to recovery is a challenging one, but with the support of the community those battling addictions can take control of their lives, remove themselves from the cycle of addiction, and return to their communities as productive members of society. Our holistic approach keeps non-violent offenders out of state prison and helps them on their path to reentry into the community.”

In Drug Court, prosecutors and defense attorneys work with the judge and treatment providers to help abusers who have committed non-violent offenses battle their addictions. Those allowed into the program are carefully screened and must remain drug free, submit to random drug tests, find employment, follow through with treatment and attend weekly Drug Court sessions. Circuit

Court Judge Sarah-Marie Jones, who presides over the Drug Court docket, participated in the ceremony.

State’s Attorney James Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the Drug Court – Will County’s first Problem Solving Court – in the late 1990s, when he wrote the grant leading to its formation. The Drug Court’s success led him to initiate the formation of the Will County Veterans Court. He also pushed for the creation of a Mental Health Court, as well as a Redeploy Illinois Court to steer qualifying repeat offenders away from criminal activities.

Glasgow also has established three residential facilities to further help Problem Solving Court participants on the path to reentry. The Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House provide temporary housing and the Connor Kelly Residence, which officially opened its doors June 25, expands upon this vision by providing longer-term transitional housing.

Will County Children’s Advocacy Center Receives $75,000 Grant To Expand Resources For Child Sex Trafficking, Child Pornography Victims

July 3, 2019

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center was recently awarded a $75,000 federal grant to expand resources for the victims of child pornography and child sex trafficking. This is the third time the CAC has received this important federal grant from the National Children’s Alliance. The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center was one of only 34 CACs across the nation to receive one of these grants for services or training, and the only in Illinois to receive the grant for services.

The grant will allow the CAC to build upon the Child Sexual Exploitation Coalition itestablished with previous grant money to develop a countywide response to child sexual exploitation, help expand law enforcement’s accessibility to the Children’s Advocacy Center and its services, and develop a public service campaign to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation. The grant also funds a specially trained child sexual exploitation and advocacy coordinator to handle these types of cases.

“The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center is continually expanding the services it provides to the most vulnerable of populations – children who have been sexually abused and exploited,” Glasgow said. “As a nonprofit organization, we rely upon grants like this to help us continue evolving with creative programs and offerings to meet the needs of our communities.”

Just last month, the CAC opened an office in Steger to provide more convenient access to counseling services for people who reside in eastern Will County. 

State’s Attorney Glasgow established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center as a 501-(c)-3 charitable organization in 1995 to vastly improve investigations into cases involving the sexual abuse of children.

Today, when children make outcries of sexual abuse, they are brought to the center, where trained and compassionate forensic interviewers obtain accurate statements in a neutral, non-suggestive and child-friendly environment. Interviews recorded at the Children’s Advocacy Center have been used in the successful prosecution of thousands of child predators over the last two decades.