Lynwood police have charged Calvin Griffin with murder and kidnapping after he was arrested on an unrelated charge on Thursday; however, they did not say what they believe Griffin’s motives may have been.
]]> Cecilia White was allegedly sexually assaulted, kidnapped, and left in Chicago Heights by her kidnappers in November, according to ABC 7. She was later able to notify police about the kidnapping and told police she was worried about her husband, who had been left behind at the house. Unfortunately, Eugene White’s body was found with gunshot wounds to the chest and head in a bedroom.A lot of questions remained during the months that followed, such as why Cecilia was kidnapped and why the attackers would target the Whites.
With the new charges against Griffin, answers may be on the horizon. However, more questions are springing up in the meantime. Investigators say they are now searching for another suspect, contrary to their previous position that the Lynwood murder was a lone operation. They have also not released any identifying information about Griffin or why he had been previously identified as a suspect.
What is likely is that Griffin will face first degree murder charges for the Lynwood murder. Generally, someone can be charged with first degree murder if they intend to kill or do great bodily harm. The maximum punishment for the crime is life in prison since Governor Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty.
However, all criminal suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Until there is a conviction, the Lynwood murder will remain a mystery.
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Students at the school reportedly told WGN that several students have been expelled and dozens more suspended for their possible involvement in drug dealing at the school.
One-to-two-hundred students are reportedly on police investigation lists because they either sent a text message or an email connected to the drug dealings, according to WGN. Many of the students’ phones were confiscated as part of the investigation.
]]> The drug in question is reportedly marijuana, but it may include others, according to the Daily Herald.Under Illinois’ “Cannabis Control Act,” selling marijuana can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class X felony depending on the amount of the drug sold. However, there are enhanced penalties for the sale of marijuana to a person who is three years younger than the seller or if the sale took place on school grounds.
The Herald also stated that the drug investigation kicked into high gear in late December.
“The investigation began with an incident involving one student which then turned out to have roots and tentacles into something farther reaching, but the extent of that we don’t know,” said Jim Conrey, the district’s spokesman.
The student drug scandal will likely set tongues wagging about the highly-recognized high school in the posh neighborhood of Lincolnshire. Stevenson was reportedly the third-highest ranked Illinois high school on Newsweek’s 2010 America’s Best High Schools list.
For more information on drug crimes, see our Related Resources section.
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A former soccer player and volunteer coach at the University of Illinois at Chicago has been charged with criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint in the rape of a 26-year-old woman, reports ABC 7 News.
Twenty-five-year-old Michael Griffin is accused of raping a woman he met at a bar several times in her Bucktown apartment, threatening to kill her and then choking her until she was unconscious, according to prosecutors.
]]> Fortunately, neighbors heard her screams and called police, who apprehended Griffin as he was leaving her apartment early Saturday morning, according to ABC 7.“I find that this neighborhood is generally very safe, but when you hear things like that, it makes you really nervous,” neighbor Lu Han told ABC 7. “I think it’s great that neighbors called 911.”
UIC officials released a statement saying Griffin will not be returning as a volunteer coach for the soccer team next season. He has also been prohibited from returning as a youth soccer coach for the Chicago United Futbol Club.
Although the accusations have hurt his employment opportunities, Griffin is still considered innocent until proven guilty in the criminal justice system. Sexual assault is a serious offense in Illinois, which classifies it as a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Griffin is currently being held on $750,000 bond. The victim was released from the hospital after being treated for bruises, scrapes and a sprained wrist.
For more information on the crime of sexual assault, see our Related Resources section.
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Her husband, Untre Johnson, reportedly died on Monday at John J. Stroger Jr. Hospital as a result of a severe stab wound to the back. Police believe Michela stabbed him during a domestic dispute earlier that day at her residence, according to ABC7.
]]> However, police would not reveal the circumstances leading up to the fatal stabbing or the couple’s relationship.Generally, someone can be charged with first-degree murder if they intend to kill or do great bodily harm. First-degree murder is usually the worst form of homicide crime and is punishable by life in prison.
First-degree murder defenses can vary, ranging from mistaken identity to self-defense. Since the stabbing happened during an alleged domestic dispute, self-defense may be a viable defense for Michela.
To succeed on an argument of self-defense, a defendant must show that the killing resulted from a reasonable use of force to resist a reasonable fear of death or bodily harm.
Given the severity of the crime, it is likely in the best interest of Michela L. Johnson to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney or public defender to plan out her defense. However, more details need to be released regarding the circumstances of Untre’s death before any speculations can be made about her case.
For more information on the crime of first-degree murder and the potential defenses to the charge, see our Related Resources section.
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Eighteen-year-old Matthew Herrmann and two other minors are accused of beating 17-year-old Joshua Merritt, putting a noose around his neck, yelling racial epithets at him, and holding him at knife-point in December.
]]> “He walks over to me, with the noose in his hand, he comes puts the noose around my neck and he begins to tighten the noose, almost strangled me to the ground,” Merritt told FOX Chicago News.All three alleged attackers and the victim reportedly attended Brother Rice High School, an all-boys, Catholic high school in Chicago, according to the Tribune.
If the allegations are true, the boys definitely didn’t follow what Jesus would have done.
Herrmann was charged with felony counts of committing a hate crime and unlawful restraint, as well as misdemeanor battery, according to Chicago police. The two minors were cited in delinquency petitions on the same charges, with one of the minors receiving an additional charge of aggravated assault for threatening with a knife.
Police believe the attack may have been triggered by the victim’s developing relationship with one of the minor’s cousins.
Under Illinois law, a person commits a hate crime when he or she commits a specific crime against a victim because of the victim’s race, color, creed, or other protected classification. A hate crime is a class 4 felony for a first offense but becomes a class 3 felony if it is committed in certain places, such as a church or school.
For more information on hate crimes and hate crime prevention, see our Related Resources section.
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Robert Lyons, the Carol Stream resident convicted of killing his mother over a botched buy of Avril Lavigne concert tickets, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
]]> The 39-year-old Lyons was accused of brutally attacking his then 61-year-old mother, Linda Bolek, after she refused to call a friend to obtain tickets for the concert in 2008. Lyons allegedly struck her in the head with a bottle of cognac, stabbed her nine times in the back with two knives, and then poured Tile-X, Drain-O and Raid over her body.He was later arrested at a Hooters restaurant, according to the Sun-Times.
During his trial last September, Lyons claimed he was only acting in self-defense because Bolek held a kitchen knife to his face during the argument. Generally, self-defense may be a complete defense to murder. To prove self-defense, the defendant will usually have to prove that the killing resulted from a real fear of death or serious bodily injury and that the amount of force used reflected the threat posed.
The jury didn’t buy his defense, however, and convicted him of murder after a six-day trial and two hours of deliberation.
“Linda Bolek did not deserve to die that day by the hands of her own son,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement to the Sun-Times. “She did not deserve to be beaten, stabbed and have chemicals poured over her as she lay helpless on the floor.”
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One of the defendants, 17-year-old Raymond Palomino, will reportedly be charged as an adult for robbery and aggravated battery, and his bail was set at $100,000. He is reportedly the son of Michael Palomino, a Cook County sheriff's deputy.
]]> Under Illinois law, aggravated battery can be charged against a person for several reasons, including causing great bodily harm to another or committing a battery in a public location. Aggravated battery can range from a class 3 felony to a class X felony depending on the circumstances of the offense.We posted earlier about the attack on the boy by a group of teenagers who kicked, punched and dragged him for more than three minutes, all while another accomplice filmed the incident. The video has since gone viral and helped bring the attack to the authorities' attention, as well as possibly shedding light on the assailants' identities.
Raymond is allegedly seen in the video, yelling "get him!" and, at one point, beating the victim with his own shoe.
Michael Palomino told the Tribune he called police and agreed to turn in his son after seeing the video on the news. However, he defended Raymond, saying the attack was in retaliation for a beating Raymond suffered at the hands of the victim and his friends.
"He's the only one charged as an adult," said Palomino. "They're making it sound like he did everything. It's just one side of the story."
The other defendants - five boys and a girl under the age of 17 - received juvenile delinquency petitions on the same charges, according to police. The girl allegedly lured the victim into an alley on South Shields, where the others lay in wait to jump him, the Tribune reported.
Although horrible to watch, public officials say that the videotaped incident is not rare, and there have been other instances of youths going on "sprees," videotaping it, and posting it on YouTube, Superintendant Garry McCarthy told the Tribune.
"This is a national epidemic," said McCarthy. "It's not something that's particular to Chicago."
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The video graphically portrays the boys kicking, punching and dragging the helpless teen around a snowy alleyway while yelling racial slurs at him. One boy can be heard saying to the victim, who appeared to be of Asian descent: “Am I speaking Chinese to you, n——?” However, authorities said the beating did not appear to be racially motivated. You can watch the video here, but it does contain scenes of graphic violence, racial slurs and profanity:
]]>The beating lasted for several minutes before the victim was able to get away without his shoes. The thugs were also able to take his wallet and $180 in cash. The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for a laceration to his lip, bruises and abrasions.
The video was later posted online on YouTube, igniting outrage, according to CBS. Police reportedly only found out about the beating because of calls from viewers who had seen the video, and some viewers have even reportedly been able to identify the suspected attackers.
"It was just disgusting, but I'm glad that the people are calling the Chicago Police Department and posting information on video and on YouTube," community activist Andrew Holmes told CBS.
If the identifications are correct, this wouldn't be the first time social media sites have been used to foil crimes. Last year, a beating victim was able to identify his attackers by using Facebook.
Police say they are close to bringing charges against the six teens in custody and are searching for two more suspects. They likely face serious charges of aggravated battery and armed robbery.
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Castro flew into Chicago from the Dominican Republic on Wednesday; days after news of the sexual assault allegations hit the mainstream media. Sources told CBS he has been interviewed or will be interviewed soon by detectives.
]]> Although investigators reportedly have wanted to question Castro since the incident happened in September, they have been unable to because Castro had already left for his native home for the offseason, according to CBS.Castro has not returned to the United States since the incident and likely only returned for the Cubs Convention which begins on Friday.
His lawyers claim he has done nothing wrong, of course, and that the allegations are baseless. The Cubs, on the other hand, would not comment on the allegations until more information was released.
The alleged victim is reportedly a woman who met Castro at a bar and went home with him to his apartment. Police reports say she passed out and woke up to find Castro on top of her. Although specific sexual assault laws vary by state, the term usually refers to any crime in which an offender subjects the victim to sexual touching that is unwanted and offensive. These crimes can range from sexual groping to rape.
Starlin Castro is an All-Star shortstop who was called up to play for the Cubs from its double A affiliate in 2010. No charges or arrest warrants have been filed in connection with the case pending the completion of the Chicago authorities’ investigation.
For more information on the crime of sexual assault, see our Related Resources section.
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Augustin Zambrano received the hefty, 60-year prison sentence for his convictions on several federal charges - including racketeering, extortion and assault - in August. The charges were connected to the Latin Kings' alleged drug-dealing operation.
]]> Zambrano's reign over the Latin Kings and its territory running from Chicago's Little Village to Texas has been compared to imprisoned Larry Hoover's, the leader of the Gangster Disciples, according to WGNtv.Like other infamous crime bosses before him, Zambrano has had a slew of nicknames, including "Tino", "Old Man", and "the Larry Hoover of the Latin Kings."
Despite the odd names, Zambrano is said to have ran a very deadly operation consisting of more than 10,000 members in Illinois, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
"He put leaders in place who shared his vision ... to see to it that the Latin Kings acted barbarically," prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
Despite the allegations, Zambrano's attorney has said he plans to appeal the convictions.
Criminal defendants have the right to appeal their conviction and are required to be given representation for their first appeal. This right is often referred to as the "appeal as a matter of right." If a defendant cannot afford a criminal defense attorney, the government will provide one for the first appeal.
For more information about the right to a criminal appeal, see our Related Resources section.
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O'Hare Airport baggage handler Abdoulaye Barry is accused of stealing a Chicago police officer's gun from his checked luggage, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
]]> The 23-year-old was arrested on Wednesday evening when police officers pulled him over for an unrelated reason. They allegedly found an officer's gun in a plastic bag in his front pocket and ran the gun's serial number. It had been reported stolen by the gun's owner sometime between Sunday and Wednesday, according to the Sun-Times.Instead of just theft charges, Barry now faces several serious weapon charges for taking the wrong item out of the wrong victim's bag.
Barry was booked on charges of aggravated concealment of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of ammunition without a valid Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card and failure to possess a FOID card, according to police News Affair Officer Laura Kubiak.
Aggravated concealment of a weapon alone is a class 4 felony offense, which is punishable by up to three years in state prison.
Abdoulaye Barry is innocent until proven guilty in criminal cases. However, given the severity of the charges against him, he should consider speaking with an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney or public defender about his case.
As for the warning this provides for future travelers, make sure you put identifying information on your luggage and have a detailed list of what you bring inside it - just in case it gets lost or stolen.
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The firefighters, Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer, were killed in December 2010 after responding to a fire in Dai's building. Dai is accused of failing to secure the building and repair the roof despite a court order, which led to the roof's collapse and the firefighters' deaths.
]]> Dai allegedly failed to correct 14 building code violations, some dating as early as 2007. Witnesses also say that the building was in bad condition and remained unsecured prior to the fire, according to the Sun-Times.However, Dai’s criminal defense attorney countered that there were no follow-up reports by the city or city agencies regarding Dai’s failure to follow the court’s order and any evidence was destroyed when the city wiped out debris after the fire.
Criminal contempt of court refers to behavior which disobeys, offenders, or disrespects the authority or dignity of a court. Criminal contempt charges can become separate charges from the underlying case. Those charged with criminal contempt generally get the same constitutional rights guaranteed to criminal defendants, such as the right to counsel and the right to a jury trial in certain cases.
If you have been charged with criminal contempt, you should consider speaking with an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney or a public defender if you cannot afford a private attorney. Both can explain the charge, as well as potential defenses. For more information on criminal contempt, see our Related Resources section.
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Holman was arrested for allegedly trying to gouge out his uncle's eyes while the two men fought over a remote control on New Year's Eve, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
]]> Holman's 62-year-old uncle told police his nephew had been arguing over the TV's remote control when the 32-year-old pushed him to the ground and "attempted to pry the eyeballs out of the sockets."Although his uncle nearly passed out from the pain, he was able to contact the Will County Sheriff's Department. Deputies arrived to find him with blood streaming from both eyes and arrested Holman who was locked inside a bedroom.
Holman was arrested on suspicion of aggravated domestic battery and is being held on $1 million bond, according to the Sun-Times. He is no stranger to the arrest process, however, since he has reportedly been arrested 25 times since 1999.
Under Illinois law, aggravated domestic battery is a Class 3 felony, which is punishable by a mandatory term of imprisonment of at least 60 consecutive days. It's a steep price for anyone to pay over who is in charge of the remote.
Exulam Holman's uncle also paid a steep price for fighting with his nephew. He is now reportedly blind in his left and eye and will need additional surgery for the limited vision in his right eye, according to the Sun-Times.
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Now, Chicago woman Theresa Unkrur says the thieves who broke into her home four days before Christmas and stole several items, including a MacBook computer, may have unintentionally posted their photo on her daughter's Facebook page, reports the Chicago Tribune.
]]> A computer application on the stolen MacBook automatically posts photos taken with its web camera onto her daughter's Facebook page. While checking her page one day, Unkrur's daughter found possibly the most surprising post of all - two smiling men allegedly using her stolen MacBook to take a picture.Unkrur and her family have given the photo to Chicago authorities and have shown the photo around the neighborhood. However, police have declined to comment on the photo or release the picture, and no one has been able to identify the men yet.
Nevertheless, the family hopes tracking down the men will help lead them to their missing goods.
This isn't the first time technology has aided police investigations.
From more conventional items such as surveillance cameras, car alarms, and home security systems to newer devices such as smartphones and social media websites, technology has been used to fight crime, according to criminologist James Alan Fox. This is often the case because criminals aren't always savvy about technology and underestimate how they can be detected electronically, Fox told the Tribune.
If the men are identified, however, the photo isn't 100 percent proof that they are the robbers. Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty, and Unkrur admits there may be an innocent explanation for the Facebook photo.
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Christopher P. West pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery, conspiracy and fraud in 2009.
The charges stemmed from allegations that West had accepted tens of thousands of dollars from military defense contractors while deployed in Afghanistan. The contractors allegedly paid him to sign off on bogus approvals for supplies that were never delivered to the U.S. military's Bagram Air Base, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
]]> Seven other co-conspirators have been sentenced in addition to West. Two of them, Illinois National Guard Lt. Robert Moore - also of Chicago - and Sgt. Patrick W. Boyd, received 15 months and 40 months, respectively, in prison time. Ten more defendants are still awaiting sentencing.Prosecutors allege West saw his crimes as part of the American dream, discussing with one contractor "the history of America and how it was built on the back of others, ultimately concluding that 'fleecing the government' was the American way," according to the Sun-Times.
Christopher P. West will be spending a fair amount of time in jail for following his version of the American dream, but it's also the American way to provide every criminal defendant with a fair trial. If you have been accused of committing a crime, a public defender will be provided for you or you can contact a Chicago criminal defense attorney to represent you in court. For more information, see our Related Resources section.
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