December 29, 2020

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that he presented a Motion today before Chief Judge Kennedy to expunge the records of 1,653 low-level cannabis possession cases involving misdemeanor possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis. Chief Judge Kennedy signed the Order to Expunge upon receipt of Glasgow’s Motion. The expungements are the result of a cooperative effort between the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Will County Twelfth Judicial Circuit, and Will County Circuit Clerk Andrea Lynn Chasteen.

Under the new law legalizing recreational cannabis use and sales, expungement is automatic for cases involving possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis. The law requires the Illinois State Police, Prisoner Review Board, and Illinois Attorney General to identify and expunge eligible low-level cannabis offense records, arrests, charges, and/or convictions according to the following schedule:

·          January 1, 2021, for offenses occurring between January 1, 2013, and June 25, 2019.

·          January 1, 2023, for offenses occurring between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2013.

·          January 1, 2025, for offenses occurring before January 1, 2000.

The statute gives Illinois State’s Attorneys the authority to expedite the expungement process by filing a motion to vacate and expunge eligible offenses. The records expunged under today’s Order involve low-level cannabis offenses occurring between January 1, 2013 and June 25, 2019. State’s Attorney Glasgow will file additional motions to address the remaining cases set to be expunged in advance of the time frames set by the statute.

“Expunging criminal records of people with the low-level cannabis convictions addressed in today’s Order will help these individuals move forward with their lives and place their convictions permanently behind them,” Glasgow said. “Today’s Order is a step in removing barriers to those who have been impacted as a result of having a criminal record based on these low-level cannabis possession cases. Back in 1998, I successfully wrote the grant creating Will County’s Drug Court, and spearheaded each of our other Problem Solving Courts as well. I truly understand the importance of removing obstacles and providing opportunities. That is exactly what today’s Order will do for those whose records will be expunged.”

In signing the Order, Chief Judge Kennedy stated, “Restorative justice is important to Will County and to our society as a whole. These expungements demonstrate our commitment to this principle.”

Individuals who wish to find out whether their records will be expunged under the Order may contact the Will County Circuit Clerk’s Office at circuitclerkofwillcounty.com, or by calling 815-727-8592. The Order addresses offenses involving possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis that occurred between January 1, 2013 and June 25, 2019.

“We will be working hard to provide the certainty these people are seeking that their case has, indeed, been expunged,” said Circuit Clerk Andrea Chasteen. “This is just one step in a multi-year process of expunging thousands of records for low-level marijuana possession offenses. Our office is doing everything we can to ensure this rolling process runs smoothly and efficiently.”

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant applauded today’s action. “This effort is a testament to our Will County officials working together for the benefit of our community. Three offices were involved in this collaborative effort. I thank them for this step in helping provide certainty and an opportunity to the people whose cases are expunged.”

Although the Act also gives authority to expunge class 4 felony and misdemeanor cannabis delivery offenses, the motion to vacate and expunge addressed simple cannabis possession cases that are not associated with felony charges or offenses outlined by the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. 

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 December 1, 2020

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow was sworn in today for his seventh term in office by Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy, further securing Glasgow’s place in local history as Will County’s longest-serving State’s Attorney. Kennedy administered the oath of office to Glasgow in a Zoom swearing-in ceremony in light of precautions being taken during the coronavirus pandemic. Immediately afterward, also via Zoom, the Chief Judge administered the oath to the Office’s 71 assistant state’s attorneys. 

“I am honored that the people of Will County have chosen me to protect the interests of our community as their top prosecutor for more than two and a half decades,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Together with the highly skilled and dedicated attorneys, legal secretaries, and administrators on my team, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office maintains a felony conviction rate 15 points higher than the state average while also implementing groundbreaking programs and initiatives in terms of crime prevention and rehabilitation.”

This marks Glasgow’s fifth consecutive term. He was first elected as Will County State’s Attorney in 1992, and was re-elected in 1996. After being out of the office for one term beginning in 2000, he returned in 2004 and has served consecutive terms ever since. 

Among noteworthy cases, Glasgow successfully prosecuted Drew Peterson for the murder of his third wife in a landmark case that attracted international attention. Peterson is serving a 38-year sentence, as well as an additional consecutive 40-year sentence for soliciting the murder for hire of State’s Attorney Glasgow. He also obtained the conviction of Christopher Vaughn in the murders of his wife and three children. Vaughn was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison for the murders.

Glasgow established the Office’s first Gang Prosecution Unit, which was featured on Peter Jennings’ World News Tonight. The recording heard at the courthouse entrance is the result of a petition State’s Attorney Glasgow brought to the Chief Judge after a mob action involving 40 gang members. The petition requested an administrative order that banned certain specific gang behavior in the courthouse and empowered the police with the authority to arrest for indirect contempt of court.

Glasgow also pioneered Will County’s first comprehensive Domestic Violence Protocol and worked with the law enforcement community on using this protocol to investigate these crimes. He convinced the Chief Judge to establish Will County’s first specialized Domestic Violence Court, and formed a specialized Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit consisting of attorneys and advocates who provide individuals the support they need to follow through with the prosecution of their abusers.

Additionally, in 2012, Glasgow established the first High Tech Crimes Unit, which tracks down those who engage in sexual exploitation of children through photos and the internet. In 2016, Glasgow acquired Illinois’ first electronics detection canine, “Cache,” who is deployed during the execution of search warrants to locate hidden devices.

“As our State’s Attorney, I have had the extraordinary opportunity to protect our citizens in innovative ways,” Glasgow said. “Through vigorous prosecutions, innovative diversionary programs in the courtroom, and partnerships in our community, I have worked tirelessly to make the State’s Attorney’s Office a conduit for positive change throughout Will County.”

Glasgow’s community initiatives include:

Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. Glasgow established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center 25 years ago to provide hope, healing, and justice to sexually abused children. Since its inception, the CAC has served literally thousands of children. Glasgow has expanded the CAC’s services to include the Paws 4 Kids program that provides therapy dogs to help comfort the children, the Will County Anti-Child Pornography and Sexual Exploitation Coalition, and a satellite office in eastern Will County. The CAC will be moving from its current location to a state-of-the art, 15,000 square foot facility which will provide the private space necessary for accreditation and continued growth.

Problem Solving Courts. State’s Attorney Glasgow spearhaded the creation of each of Will County’s Problem Solving Courts. He wrote and administrated the grant funding the creation of the Drug Court; established the Mental Health Court with former Will County Chief Judge Gerald Kinney; petitioned for the formation of the Will County Veterans Court; and wrote and obtained the grant for the Redeploy Illinois Court.

Residential facilities. To further help Problem Solving Court participants on the path to reentry, Glasgowestablishedthe Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House to provide rehabilitation housing, and in 2019 opened the Connor Kelly Residence which provides longer-term transitional housing.

K9s to Local Law Enforcement.  Glasgow has provided drug-detection K9s to local law enforcement throughout Will County. Currently, seven police K9s were provided to local communities by the State’s Attorney’s Office:Simo (Crest Hill), Tucker (Park Forest), Rookie (Shorewood), Sam (Elwood), Hutch (Channahon), Roxie (Rockdale), and Mao (Wilmington). The K-9s, their training, and the transport equipment installed in the police vehicles have been paid for with drug asset money seized from criminals, at no cost to taxpayers. Glasgow also helped purchase explosive detection dog Loki for the Will County Sheriff’s Department.

League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends.  In 2019, Glasgow established The League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends to bring together the resources to address animal abuse and neglect, and the propensity of people who hurt animals to harm other individuals. Glasgow received a national award for this work earlier this year, being named one of “American’s Top Ten Animal Defenders” by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). Glasgow authored Illinois’ 1999 statute creating the state’s first criminal felony charge for animal cruelty, and established an Animal Protection Unit of three assistant state’s attorney to work with law enforcement on prosecuting animal abuse and neglect cases.

Partnerships. Using money forfeited by criminals and in partnership with local businessman Terry D’Arcy, Glasgow has donated vehicles at no cost to taxpayers to the Veterans Assistance Commission, Boys & Girls Club of Joliet, the Spanish Community Center, and the Forest Park Community Center, along with the “Hidden in Plain Sight” vehicle and trailer to the Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization. In 2016, the State’s Attorney’s Office made a $10,000 contribution to Guardian Angel Community Services, also using forfeiture funds, to cover the cost of 24 new steel-frame beds for the Groundwork Emergency Shelter to serve domestic violence victims.

In addition to the award from ALDF, Glasgow’s honors include the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from Senior Services of Will County, the 2017 George Sangmeister Medal of Excellence for Community Service from Childerguild & Silver Cross Hospital, the 2013 Community Advocate Award for Outstanding Leadership and Contribution in the Work against Domestic Violence from the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network, and the 2014 Award of Recognition from Will County Take Back the Night. The Illinois State Crime Commission has awarded Glasgow its prestigious State’s Attorney of the Year honor on an unprecedented four occasions over the past two decades and presented him with a Career Achievement Award in 2016. He also received the prestigious Mitchell A. Mars Prosecutorial Excellence Award from the Chicago Crime Commission in 2012 for his outstanding effort in the prosecution of Drew Peterson.

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October 6, 2020

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that 12 individuals from Will County’s Drug Court graduated in a socially distanced ceremony held October 1 during which family members watched via Zoom. Glasgow commended the graduates for continuing their commitment to the program throughout the challenges posed by Covid-19.

“As the pandemic has continued, our Drug Court participants have persevered with dedication on their paths to a better future. These most recent graduates are a testament to how our Drug Court program serves as a crucial hand up to individuals seeking better lives,” Glasgow said. “This has been a challenging time for all of us. For these individuals to have maintained their efforts throughout the pandemic speaks volumes about their commitment to making a better life and becoming productive members of society. The Will County Problem Solving Courts are changing lives and keeping individuals out of the prison system on a daily basis.”

Circuit Judge Sarah Jones presided over the graduation ceremony. The graduates hail from Joliet, New Lenox, Monee, Shorewood, Essex, Lockport, Plainfield, and Bolingbrook.

Glasgow played an integral role in creating each of Will County’s four Problem Solving Courts. He spearheaded the creation of the Drug Court – Will County’s first Problem Solving Court – when he wrote and administered the grant that funded its formation. Along with Will County Chief Judge Gerald Kinney, Glasgow established the Mental Health Court in 2010. He also petitioned for the formation of the Will County Veterans Court, and wrote and obtained the grant for the Adult Redeploy Illinois Court to steer qualifying repeat offenders away from prison and into gainful employment.

State’s Attorney Glasgow also 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 opened in 2019 provides longer-term transitional housing.

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August 5, 2020

JOLIET, IL – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that Arties Titus, 53, of Joliet was sentenced to 24 years in prison by Circuit Judge David Carlson on two counts of Home Invasion, a Class X felony, for entering his former girlfriend’s home through a window in 2016 while yielding a knife and slashing the woman and her boyfriend.

Titus had entered the victim’s home by cutting a screen in the front of her residence. Knowing she was in the basement, he went to the downstairs bedroom holding two kitchen knives and told the woman and her boyfriend victim they “were going to die.” He then began slashing at the couple and a struggle ensued during which both victims were slashed and the boyfriend was bitten. The boyfriend eventually wrestled the knives away from Titus, who then fled the scene. He was arrested shortly after, and while being placed in handcuffs yelled out to the victims, “just remember, when I get out, I’m killing you both.”

At the time of the arrest, Titus had been out of prison for less than three months after serving time for another domestic violence attack involving a separate victim.

“Titus displayed the epitome of rank cowardice, using unbridled violence to prey upon and control his unarmed victims,” Glasgow said. “Everyone has the absolute right to feel safe in their own home. This malevolent predator viciously and without provocation violated the sanctity of a woman’s home, initially taunting his victims that they were going to die, ruthlessly slashing them, stopping only when he was disarmed, and then reprising his threat to kill even when he was in custody. His deplorable actions are clear evidence of a malignant heart that justifies the sentence he so richly deserves.”

The 24-year sentence followed a bench trial that concluded on October 10, 2019. Titus will receive 1,466 days of credit for time served.

Glasgow praised Assistant State’s Attorneys John Rickmon and Tom Slazyk, as well as Victim Witness Services Director Nichole Pasteris, for their dedication and hard work throughout the course of the case.

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