Crime & Safety
71-Year-Old Man Charged With Sex Assault of a Child: Court Watch
Also, a Cook County judge rules that animals housed by Dazzle's Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary must be removed during sentencing for the owner's eight misdemeanor counts of violation of owner's duties.
The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week.
Cook County
CHICAGO HEIGHTS — Man Accused in Gas Station Homicide Moved to Medical Ward in Jail
A judge granted a request from the attorney of Dennis Joyner, 60, to move the Park Forest man to the medical ward in the county jail because he has a chest defibrillator and suffers from extreme gout. Joyner is in custody for allegedly shooting and killing a Chicago Heights man at a gas station over a rental dispute.
Joyner's arraigment has been set for Oct. 16.
Man Charged in Girlfriend's Shooting Death Has Hearing, Confronted by Mother of Slain Woman
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Attorneys for both sides of the murder case against George Kleopa, 33, are still exchanging evidence during the discovery phase. Kleopa is free on a $2 million bond, accused in the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend, Michele Peters, 30. After a brief hearing this week, Kleopa was confronted outside the Markham courtroom by Michele's mother, Catherine Peters, who told Patch she just wants her daughter's things and to be able to see her young grandsons. Kleopa didn't respond to Catherine Peters.
He is set to be back in court for a status hearing Nov. 20.
HOMEWOOD — 71-Year-Old Homewood Man Held on $300,000 Bond for Alleged Child Sex Assault
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A Cook County judge set a $300,000 bond for Hugh T. Copeland, 71, of Homewood, on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Police say Copeland sexually assaulted a juvenile over the course of two years, with the most recent incident occurring Aug. 12.
He is scheduled to be back in a Markham courtroom Oct. 24.
ORLAND PARK — Murder Case Gets Continuance
The case against Allan Kustok, who is accused in the shooting death of his wife, has been continued until Nov. 21.
PALOS — Defendants in Granat Murders Case to Proceed Separately
Cases for the four teens accused in the beating death of a Palos Township couple will be separated while the defense attorney for Mohammed Salahat argues motions that do not involve the other three accused.
Police say Christopher Wyma, 17; Ehab Qasem, 19; and John Granat, 18, stabbed and beat Granat's parents, John and Maria Granat, while Salahat remained in a car outside.
Salahat will be back in court Oct. 12, while Wyma, Qasem and Granat are scheduled to appear Nov. 27.
Judge: Evidence Against Prosecution's Witness Can't Be Used in Hate Crime Case
A Cook County judge has ruled defense attorneys will not be able to admit the criminal history of a key witness brought by the prosecution in the case against two men facing hate crime and robbery charges. Akram Alshoweat and Mohammed Shaban are claiming self-defense in connection with the 2010 incident where they allegedly attacked a woman they believed to be a lesbian outside a restaurant. They say the woman, a former Olympic martial arts fighter, was the aggressor.
They are scheduled to be back in court Oct. 24.
TINLEY PARK — Painted Pastures Owner Sentenced, Animals Removed from Property
Dawn Hamill, the 43-year-old owner of Dazzle's Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, was sentenced to 30 days in a Cook County Sheriff's Office community service program for nonviolent offenders, given a year of probation and $8,000 in fines for her conviction on eight misdemeanor counts of violation of owner's duties.
Hamill also had to relinquish ownership of animals housed at the rescue pending the results of a psychiatric evaluation. In compliance with the judge's orders, Animal Welfare League officials removed dozens of animals from the property. Hamill is scheduled to be back in court in Markham for a status hearing Nov. 8.
Will County
NEW LENOX — New Lenox Murder Case Returns to Court
Rodney Julun, 24, was returned to the Will County Adult Detention Facility after his lawyer explained that he needed time to go over evidence recently turned over by prosecutors.
Judge Daniel Rozak set Julun's next court date for Nov. 5. Julun allegedly beat 59-year-old Dwight Jonesto death in June 2011. Jones and Julun met on Chicago's South Side, police said, and Jones invited him back to his home for a drink.
On the Docket Next Week
TUESDAY
New Lenox resident and Bremen High School teacher accused of fondling students
Woman charged in Orland Park hijacking with a BB gun
WEDNESDAY
Mokena man accused of assaulting Tinley Park restaurant manager
FRIDAY
Teen accused in murder of Palos Township couple
