Court Watch: Teen Gets Public Defender in Granat Murder Case

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

Cook County

EVERGREEN PARK -- Woman Accused of Leaving Disabled Men in Hot Car

Kathy Reed, 47, appeared in court Friday, Sept. 21 on abuse or criminal neglect charges stemming from an incident where she allegedly left four disabled men in a van on a hot summer day. She pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month.

Another court date has been for Oct. 23.

OAK LAWN -- Trio Accused in Buell Court Home Invasion Back in Court Next Month

Three men  in a Buell Court home invasion in August are set to be back in court on Oct. 25. Authorities say Timmie Walton, 28, of Midlothian, and Keon Thigpen, 23, and Kennedy Clark, 51, both of Chicago, committed the crime on Aug. 3.

ORLAND PARK -- New Charges for Man Cause Change in Court Appearance 

Kevin Skaritka, who has been accused of criminal sexual assault of teen and unrelated charges of manufacturing harmful materials may now have cases in two separate court houses.

Skaritka was scheduled to appear Sept. 20 in a Bridgeview courtroom on his latest charges of manufacturing harmful materias for allegedly sending sexually explicit images to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl in St. Louis, Mo. But a check of court records showed that case was moved to be heard in the court house in downtown Chicago. Skaritka's attorney couldn't be reached for comment about the change.

Meanwhile, Skaritka is scheduled to be back in court on the original sexual assault of a teen charges on Oct. 15.

PALOS -- Teen Accused in Granat Murders Gets Public Defender

John Granat, 18, now has a public defender in the case against him and three other teens for the armed robbery and beating death of a Granat's parents, a Palos Township couple. Granat and the other three suspects, Mohammad Salahat, 18, Christopher Wyma, 18, and Ehab Qasem, 20, are set to be back in court on Oct. 5.

Men Accused in Hate Crime Get Another Continuance

After a trial delay and a reject of a plea deal, Akram Alshoweat, 24, of Oak Lawn and Mohammed Shaban, 37, of Hickory Hills are still waiting for a new trial date to be set. They will be back in court on Sept. 25 for another pre-trial hearing.

The two men are accused of attacking and robbing a woman they believed to be a lesbian on June 28, 2010 but defense attorneys have asked to admit evidence they believe will discredit the state's key witness.

TINLEY PARK -- Orland Park Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking in Tinley

Michael J. Kroll, 24, of Orland Park pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular hijacking charges Friday, Sept. 21 and was sentenced to 18 years in state prison, county officials said.

Authorities say Kroll and approached a woman in her 90s, , threatened to shoot her and then escaped with her car and her purse.

On the Docket Next Week

MONDAY
Hearing for women charged in theft of money from Orland Park high school

TUESDAY
Sentencing for Tinley Park woman on eight counts of animal neglect
Hearing for Orland Park man accused in fatal DUI
Men accused in hate crime in Palos

THURSDAY
"Ashford House 5" accused of attacking white supremacists in Tinley Park
Man arrested on weapons charges related to "Ashford House 5" case

FRIDAY
Orland Park man accused of wife's 2010 murder