patching...
Update: Got a news tip? Send the editor an email at christopher.paicely@patch.com
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Hate Crime

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Court Watch: Trial Reset for Two Men Accused of Hate Crime and Robbery

Also, Kustok pretrial investigations move from prosecutors to defense attorneys. Judge extends protection order filed against the vice president of the New Lenox District 122 Board of Education.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. OAK LAWN — Oak Lawn Bank Robbery Suspect Charged in Federal Court Police said a man connected to Saturday's robbery of the Bank of America branch in Oak Lawn has been charged with one count of robbery. Bank employees say they heard what sounded like the robber talking to another person outside the bank on a cell phone. ORLAND PARK — Dennis Dodson’s ruddy hair and beard and neon-yellow jumpsuit provided the only color Tuesday in an otherwise quick and routine court appearance. Dodson was charged last year with the daylight kidnap and molestation of an 83-year-old woman behind the Orland Park Home Depot. He remained in jail on a $1.5 million…

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Court Watch: Trial Looms for Man Accused of Knocking Another into Coma in 2009

Palos Hills man accused of stealing donation canister for cancer patient released from jail. Hate crime defendants set for trial next month.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. NEW LENOX — After two and a half years, a New Lenox man accused of beating a Joliet man into a coma may be headed for trial. A judge is looking to conclude pretrial hearings in the case against Joseph P. Messina, accused of knocking a man unconscious outside 191 South in Mokena in 2009. Messina, who was celebrating his 21st birthday at the time, has been indicted on two counts of aggravated battery. As bar-goers were leaving 191 South the night of July 25, words were exchanged over a T-shirt. Shoving and punching followed, and Eric Bartels fell and hit his head on the pavement, according to police reports at the time. Several witnesses …

Barbara

1:21 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Sad when in this modern age people who were not involved directly judge without cause. Having a comment post with name calling is inappropriate. Both families are suffering because of this and comments like those don't help, if anything it just create negativity in a community. In our family we lost a member due to drinking and both members involved were drinking. This should be left for the …   more ›

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Court Watch: Accused Armed Robber May Enter a Plea

Also, lesbian-beating case, accused cancer-donation thief and others return to court next week.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. EVERGREEN PARK — Marcus A. Parker, a 23-year-old Evergreen Park resident charged with armed robbery on Chicago’s North Side, was arraigned Wednesday on a seven-count bill of indictment. Charges stem from an incident on Dec. 4 in which police said Parker and another man—Joel Shavers, 22, of Chicago—robbed a pedestrian in the 2900 block of North Mildred Street. At the time Parker was  carrying a loaded handgun, according to police, as well as several items reported stolen in that area over the preceding days, including cell phones and credit cards. Both men remained in jail Wednesday on a $400,000 bail. They may enter a plea when they return…

Comment_arrow
Patch_comments_icon

Jesse Marx

6:24 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012

JB, "Court Watch" is a weekly recap of high profile court cases through the south region of Chicago Patch (which includes a dozen communities, from Evergreen Park to New Lenox). This is our way of keeping readers informed about the status of notable cases, some of which can take months, even years, to come to trial. You'll notice in the link section above that we post separate articles if …   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?