Thursday, February 21, 2013
Michael Kochan, 28, of Wheaton pleads guilty of child porn possession charges, the Daily Herald reports.
A Wheaton man has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in DuPage County court and faces up to seven years in prison, the Daily Herald reported Thursday. Michael Kochan, 28, of the north 600 block of Knollwood Court in Wheaton was charged in September with one count of child porn, intent to actively reproduce or distribute, and possession of child porn following an investigation by the Wheaton Police Department. The Herald reported Kochan could also receive probation at his Apr. 5 sentencing. Kochan remains at the DuPage County Jail on $50,000 bail. There are plenty of ways to keep up with Wheaton news:
Friday, December 14, 2012
Judge rules information obtained in an interview with a man charged with soliciting someone to kill two public officials will be valid as the case proceeds.
This information was originally posted Monday in Patch's weekly Court Watch: A judge recently ruled that DuPage prosecutors used an improper tactic to bring a murder-for-hire suspect in for questioning. However, Judge George Bakalis decided the information obtained in the interview, and ultimately the charges filed against Gordon Vanderark, would have been no different if the tactic had not been used, records show. Vanderark is charged with trying to hire a fellow prison inmate to kill a DuPage County Judge and assistant state's attorney tied to a previous felony conviction that landed Vanderark in prison. Prosecutors used a confidential source to learn about Vanderark's plan and set up a "ruse" hearing on an unrelated issue to have …
Monday, December 10, 2012
Patch covers happenings in major court cases, including a former Wheaton man's charges of hiring a fellow inmate to kill two public officials and two others and a Naperville man's sexual exploitation trial.
Wheaton: A judge recently ruled that DuPage prosecutors used an improper tactic to bring a murder-for-hire suspect in for questioning. However, Judge George Bakalis decided the information obtained in the interview, and ultimately the charges filed against Gordon Vanderark, would have been no different if the tactic had not been used, records show. Vanderark is charged with trying to hire a fellow prison inmate to kill a DuPage County Judge and assistant state's attorney tied to a previous felony conviction that landed Vanderark in prison. Prosecutors used a confidential source to learn about Vanderark's plan and set up a "ruse" hearing on an unrelated issue to have Vanderark brought back from the Centralia Correctional Center. Once in …
Monday, December 3, 2012
Patch reports updates in major court cases, including an evaluation for a man suspected of murder and the unknown whereabouts of a carjacking suspect.
Lisle: A second man charged in a July 7-Eleven robbery has pleaded guilty for his part in the incident, records show. Antonio Finley, 21, pleaded guilty to a robbery charge and was sentenced to six years in prison as part of a deal with prosecutors, who dropped several other counts against Finley. He was given credit for four months in DuPage County Jail and received a recommendation of a prison boot camp, which could shorten his prison time. In October, 17-year-old Steven Gayden was sentenced to four years in prison in connection to the robbery. He also was given a boot camp recommendation. Two other men - DeShaun Wilson and Antwan James - have related cases that are pending. Related: Naperville: A Naperville man will be evaluated once …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Marco Fosco of Downers Grove faces child pornography charges after an investigation by the Wheaton Police Department.
A Downers Grove man faces four counts of child pornography charges after an online investigation conducted by the Wheaton Police Department. Marco Fosco, 35, of 6105 Janes Avenue in Downers Grove was arrested on a warrant Friday, Nov. 16 for one count of aggravated possession of child pornography—of film/photo of a child under age 13, and three counts of child possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in DuPage County court Dec. 17. Recent police news: Police Blotter information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Patch recaps happenings in major court cases, including the Wheaton Library break-in, a meth conspiracy and solicitation of a police officer.
Glen Ellyn: When former firefighter David Garmoe returns to court Nov. 16 in his theft case, it could be to finalize a plea. Court records show Garmoe's attorney and prosecutors met with the judge to discuss plea negotiations during an Oct. 26 hearing. Garmoe, the former treasurer of the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company, has pleaded not guilty to stealing $260,000 from the organization. If a deal, which would most likely involve restitution, cannot be reached, the case is expected to be scheduled for a trial date, records state. Related: Let Patch save you time. Get stories delivered to your inbox—sign up for our email newsletter. Fast signup here. You can also like us on Facebook. Lisle/Naperville: Ladislav Fromelius, the former …
Friday, August 17, 2012
A Wheaton woman charged with prostitution, an inmate charged with soliciting someone to kill two public officials, a Wheaton man accused with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and others return to DuPage County courts next week.
MONDAY, AUGUST 20 Christine Obarr, of the 400 block of Sunnybrook Lane in Wheaton faces prostitution charges after a sting by Naperville police in May. The string resulted in charges for six people with prostitution and pandering, Naperville police said. The Naperville Police Department’s special undercover unit regularly checks social media websites for suspected prostitution activity in the Western suburbs, said Naperville Police Department Sgt. Gregg Bell. Thursday’s arrests resulted from online communications and police setting up meetings at a location on Iroquois Avenue, he said. Obarr is free on $1,500 bond. She will return to DuPage County court Monday, Aug. 20 to set a trial date. Related posts: TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 Michael Delaney…
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Seven men and five women have been chosen as jurors for the trial set to start Tuesday.
The final five jurors and four alternate jurors were picked for Drew Peterson's much anticipated murder trial, and opening statements are expected to be heard Monday. Attorney Joel Brodsky said he will be the one handling opening statements for the defense and revealed his plan to tell "the story of Drew Peterson, from beginning to end." And when Brodsky is done with that story, said defense attorney Steve Greenberg, the jury will be convinced that Peterson did not murder his third wife, Kathleen Savio, by hitting her in the head and drowning her in a bathtub. "There's going to be no question she slipped in the tub and Drew was home when it happened," said Greenberg, who also scoffed at the idea that fresh bruises were discovered on Savio …
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Whether Peterson will testify in his defense is "his decision."
Check out our Storify to see what's being said around the web about the Drew Peterson trial. Updated 4:30 p.m. The final three alternate jurors have been selected. Look for a story later after the press conferences are over. Updated 4 p.m. Drew Peterson defense attorney Joseph "Shark" Lopez said a "killer jury" was picked for his clieny's murder trial. "It's a perfect jury," said Lopez, who insisted that the seven-man, five-woman jury represents all walks of life and is a true reflection of the community. Lopez and co-counsel Steve Greenberg did not rule out the possibility that Peterson might take the stand to testify in his own defense, saying, "It's his decision." But Lopez declined to say whether or not Peterson wants to testify. "…
Eight jurors were chosen in Drew Peterson's trial for the alleged murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio.
Will County Judge Edward Burmila held a marathon jury selection session Monday and empaneled eight jurors for the Drew Peterson murder trial. It was the very first day of jury selection and Burmila kept 31 of 40 prospective jurors for nearly 12 hours—past 9 p.m. Eight more people are needed for the 12-person jury and the four alternates. Peterson, who appeared in court in a gray jacket, dark pants, a new haircut—and without his trademark mustache—stands accused of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Keep up with Wheaton Patch on our Facebook page. Savio was found drowned in a dry bathtub in March 2004. Depsite the tumultuous, occasionnally violent divorce she was going through with Peterson, and the strange circumstances of her death…
