State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces Darrius Brown Sentenced to Eight Years in Violent 2018 Beatings of Girlfriend

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May 3, 2021

JOLIET –  Will County Attorney State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that Darrius Brown, 40, of Plainfield was sentenced today to eight years in prison by Circuit Judge Carmen Goodman for violent attacks on his girlfriend spanning multiple days in 2018. The sentencing follows a bench trial that concluded on October 8, 2020, in which Goodman found Brown guilty of Aggravated Domestic Battery, a Class 2 Felony; Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, also a Class 2 Felony; and Resisting a Police Officer, a Class A Misdemeanor.

The beatings occurred over approximately five days in February 2018, while Brown was living with Jamie Hollingsworth, his girlfriend, at her residence. During this time span, Hollingsworth’s children heard Brown beating and punching their mother repeatedly, and one child said he could hear her yelling “stop, stop you’re hurting me.” Brown refused to let the children intervene despite their attempts to help their mother. Finally, Brown ordered the oldest child to take her to the hospital but to say that he had found her in Chicago and that if he didn’t “stick to the story” he would end up just like her. Hollingsworth suffered brain damage and memory loss, required surgery to attempt to repair her vision from retinal detachment, had over 14 facial fractures, and suffered numerous other injuries from the beatings. Officers located .22 ammunition in the residence when executing a search warrant. Testimony of multiple witnesses, including the children, was that Brown, a convicted felon, possessed a number of firearms and ammunition.

“Previously convicted felon Darrius Brown callously brutalized Jamie Hollingsworth—beating her while the children in the household heard her crying for help and were not allowed to come to her aid,” Glasgow said. “The cruelty of this morally reprehensible predator and the impact of his violent conduct on this helpless woman and her children is unfathomable.”

Brown was sentenced to eight years on the Aggravated Domestic Battery count to be served at 85% pursuant to state statute, followed by two years mandatory supervised release; six years on Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon to be served at 50% pursuant to state statute, followed by two years mandatory supervised release; and 100 days for Resisting a Police Officer with credit for time served. Brown, who has been in custody since March 24, 2018, will receive 1,136 days credit for time served.

Glasgow praised Assistant State’s Attorneys Mark Fleszewski and Katie Rabenda, Victim Advocate Esther Borrego, as well as staff members Traci Knutson, Nancy Nelson, Jennifer Boyle, and Gus Martinucci, for their dedication and hard work throughout the course of the case.

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State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces Successful Prosecution of First Jury Trial in New Will County Courthouse

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April 21, 2021

JOLIET –  Will County Attorney State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced the successful prosecution of the first criminal 12-person jury trial in the new Will County Courthouse on April 13, 2021. Although the doors to the new courthouse opened November 2, 2021, both civil and criminal jury trials in Will County had been suspended since Spring 2020 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Winning the first jury trial in the new, state-of-the-art Will County Courthouse following the absence of jury trials in Will County for over a year because of the pandemic is truly an historic event,” Glasgow said. “To honor this seminal moment, we are establishing a commemorative wall in the State’s Attorney’s Office to recognize significant achievements by our team in the new courthouse – and this will be at the top of the display.”

Glasgow noted that the courthouse is likely to be extremely busy now that the jury trials put on hold because of the pandemic are resuming.

“I told these two talented young Assistant State’s Attorneys that they have accomplished something that no one else can match, because there is only one first jury trial in the new courthouse,” Glasgow said. “We are all very proud of Kaitlyn Leone and James Zanayed. I look forward to similarly commemorating future noteworthy achievements by our prosecutors in the new Will County courthouse.”

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State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces That 20 Problem Solving Court Participants Graduate In Three Ceremonies Held This Week

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January 22, 2021

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that 20 individuals from Will County’s Problem Solving Courts graduated in three separate ceremonies this week, during which family members watched via Zoom.

“These individuals are graduating during an unprecedented time,” Glasgow said. “Substance abuse has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic as people try to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. The ceremonies held this week are a testament to the commitment of these graduates who have persevered on their paths to a better, more productive life despite the challenges posed as a result of Covid.”

The graduation ceremony for eight Mental Health Court participants, who hail from Joliet and Braidwood, was held January 19. On January 20, two ceremonies took place – one for four ARI graduates from Joliet, Braidwood, and Romeoville, and another for eight Veterans Court participants who are from Joliet, Richton Park, Lyons, and Oak Forest. During the Veterans Court ceremony, Chief Judge Daniel Rippy was honored for his dedication to the Problem Solving Courts. Associate Circuit Judge Harvey presided over all three graduation ceremonies.

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 Redeploy Illinois Court to steer qualifying repeat offenders away from prison and into gainful employment.

In addition, Glasgow 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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Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow Elected President of Illinois State’s Attorneys Association

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January 15, 2021

Joliet – Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow was sworn in today as President of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association by his fellow State’s Attorneys. Glasgow was unanimously elected to the position by his colleagues.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my fellow State’s Attorneys for this important position in the Association,” Glasgow said.  “As prosecutors, our job is to represent all people in the State of Illinois. We will continue working to ensure our criminal justice system functions effectively, whether through the prosecution of dangerous criminals or diversionary programs that help give at-risk individuals a second chance.”

The Illinois State’s Attorneys Association is a bipartisan organization comprised of all elected State’s Attorneys throughout the State of Illinois, whose purpose is to promote the orderly administration of justice and the enforcement of the law. Although the incoming President typically is announced at the Association’s annual conference, the event was cancelled this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Glasgow will serve a one-year term as the Association’s President. He currently is serving an unprecedented seventh term as Will County State’s Attorney. 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, along with an additional consecutive 40-year sentence for soliciting the murder for hire of State’s Attorney Glasgow. Glasgow also obtained the conviction of Christopher Vaughn who was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and three children.

“In addition to prosecuting criminals, I have made it a mission of my Office to zealously reach out to and protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” Glasgow said. “This Office has an unsurpassed record of launching creative and highly successful initiatives that support our law enforcement community, make our neighborhoods safer, and provide needed support to at-risk individuals looking to become productive members of society.”

Glasgow’s numerous pioneering initiatives include:

·         Spearheading each of the Will County’s four Problem Solving Courts that give at-risk defendants another chance.

·         Establishing three unprecedented residential facilities to provide a support system for Problem Solving Court participants, including most recently the Connor Kelly residence which opened in 2019 to provide longer-term transitional housing.

·         Creating the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center 25 years ago to provide hope, healing, and justice to abused children.

·         Pioneering Will County’s first comprehensive Domestic Violence Protocol; working closely with the Chief Judge to establish Will County’s first specialized Domestic Violence Court; and forming a specialized Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit in the State’s Attorney’s Office.

·         Drafting groundbreaking legislation ranging from Illinois’ Animal Torture Statute creating the first felony charge in the State for the abuse of animals, to “Rebecca’s Law” strengthening penalties for abusers who torture their victims.

·         Creating The League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends in 2019 as a countywide initiative to compassionately address animal abuse and neglect while at the same time focusing attention on individuals who also are more likely to harm other humans. Glasgow also has provided drug-detection K9s to local law enforcement throughout Will County, including eight municipalities and the Sheriff’s Office, through the use of forfeiture funds and at no cost to taxpayers.

“I appreciate the confidence of my colleagues in selecting me to serve in this important position for the Association. I will work in partnership with my fellow State’s Attorneys throughout Illinois to continue providing the highest quality of services to our citizens.”

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