This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Court Watch: Attorneys for Youth Soccer Coach to Review Kid-Porn Photos

Also, Oak Lawn woman in child porn case is allowed to visit her niece, and an accused sexual assailant is told to keep wearing his electronic monitor.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week.

Leading the Docket

FRANKFORT — Because some of the evidence against Darrell Stephenson may include pictures of a naked child, defense attorneys expect to meet with prosecutors at the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office by Jan. 12, 2012, and review the state’s case.

Accused of having sexual contact with a boy half his age, Stephenson, 24, is charged with multiple counts related aggravated criminal sexual abuse and possession of child porn. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in jail on bail totaling $90,000.

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He once coached youth soccer in Frankfort and surrounding communities, according to prosecutors.

Cook County

OAK LAWN — A 20-year-old Oak Lawn woman charged with possession of child porn and grooming was given permission to visit her 4-year-old niece in the company of her parents or grandparents. Lauren Papiez and her boyfriend, James West, 26, are accused of . As a condition of bail, Papiez is supposed to have no contact whatsoever with minors.

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Prosecutors said they’re still waiting on to finish the final drafts of investigative reports. Hearings for both Papiez and West are set for Jan. 25, 2012.

West, who remains in jail, has had an extensive criminal history since his 18th birthday. His Cook County rap sheet includes 11 convictions ranging from telephone harassment to aggravated battery.

ORLAND PARK — Judge John J. Hynes ruled against a man accused of sexually molesting a teenage girl in Orland Park and Palos Hills who argued that his electronic monitor was unnecessary. On Monday, attorney Robert Callahan reminded the court that his client, Kevin Skaritka, has no criminal background and paid a $50,000 bond. Assistant state’s attorneys protested, noting that the victim in this case is a child.

Also in court, prosecutors said they’re awaiting copies of the defendant’s phone and employment records before they conclude pretrial investigations. The next hearing is set for Jan. 19, 2012.

Will County

FRANKFORT — Pretrial hearings involving Michael Angel, a former Lincoln-Way High School District 210 employee accused of missing successive court dates and running from a police officer, will begin Jan. 12, 2012. Angel is also due back in court on Jan. 25, 2012, for the original case involving trespassing on school grounds. Prosecutors are seeking to revoke a plea agreement approved in August that included one year of supervision for Angel.

NEW LENOX— Possibly the final pretrial hearing for John White — a man who police say robbed a dead man’s home while the body decayed — is scheduled for Dec. 20. White and his public defender may ask Judge Daniel Rozak to suppress some of the state’s evidence, according to court records. The defense has until Dec. 16 to file any last-minute requests.

On the Docket Next Week

MONDAY

Marcus Parker, an Evergreen Park resident charged with armed robbery on Chicago’s North Side, is due in court for arraignment.

TUESDAY

Mohammad Shaban and Akram Alshoweat, accused in 2010 of beating and robbing a Palos Hills woman they believed was a lesbian, are scheduled for a final pretrial hearing. If all goes well, a trial is slated to begin Jan. 4, 2012.

WEDNESDAY

David J. Potter, of Tinley Park, is expected to plead on charges that he sexually abused a girl in Mokena.

THURSDAY

Criminal pretrial hearings resume for Nicholas Sord, whose SUV flipped over on New Year’s Eve 2009 killing Jessica Mejia of New Lenox. Cook County Sheriff’s police contend Sord, of Orland Park, was three times over the blood-alcohol limit during the crash.

FRIDAY

Accused residential burglars Ira Cunningham and William Jenkins return to court after pleading not guilty to a burglary in Frankfort.

 

Looking for more crime news from this week?

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.