Court Watch: Men Charged in Ashford House Beating Plead Not Guilty

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

Cook County

ORLAND PARK — Rick Beuke, an attorney for Allan Kustok, said he has interviewed several experts but has “not formally retained anyone” who might be called to challenge the state’s forensic evidence at Anita “Jeanie” Kustok’s murder trial. Nearly two years have passed since Kustok carried his dead wife into the Palos Community Hospital ER and was arrested in her shooting death.

Earlier this month, prosecutors announced that they were finished with their investigation. As of Monday they had only a new copy of a scratched DVD to give the defense, which they resolved to do by the next pretrial hearing on July 26. Of the two years worth of interviews and reports that he now has at his disposal, including notes from a blood-splatter expert, Beuke informed the court, “I’m trying to go through it and understand it.”

PALOS —

Owner of the Canton Express in Worth, which was destroyed on New Year's Eve by fire, avoided jail time as part of a plea deal offered last month by the state.

TINLEY PARK —

Five men accused of being among a group of about 18 who authorities say attacked diners at the Ashford House in May were arraigned Thursday, when they appeared before three different judges. In July, attorneys will ask a judge to reduce their bail.

Will County

FRANKFORT —

With good behavior and credit for time already served, Brandon Bergthold, 25, could be out in less than five years as part of a plea deal. Bergthold was arrested in a sting operation in January at a New Lenox motel.

FRANKFORT — Adam Grosch was given a 60-day break in pretrial hearings to catch up on evidence alleging that his new client, Brian Trainauskas, plotted to murder a Will County prosecutor in 2011 while sitting in jail. A private attorney, Grosch replaced the Will County Public Defender’s Office in May on one of two criminal cases against Trainauskas. Authorities also allege that he murdered Monica Timar in 2009. She was found wrapped in a comforter in the trunk of her Ford Mustang in the 21000 block of 78th Avenue with a gunshot wound to the head. Both cases are up again on Sept. 6.

Meanwhile, Judge Richard Schoenstedt has granted two members of Trainauskas’ family as well as his fiancé permission to visit him in jail next month. He is being held without bond.

NEW LENOX —

A Will County judge denied probation and sentenced John White and David Reed, both of whom pleaded guilty earlier this year. With good behavior and credit for time served, they could serve a shorter amount of time.

— Tinley Park Patch Editor Carrie Frillman contributed to this article

On the Docket Next Week

MONDAY

Trial begins in Joliet for a man accused of beating another man into a coma in 2009

Advocate Christ doctor accused of inappropriately touching a patient

TUESDAY

A young man accused of mocking and evading police officers on a stolen motorcycle and then uploading the videos to YouTube

WEDNESDAY

A special hearing was set for John Granat, one of four young men accused of participating in the murder of Granat’s parents

A Will County judge will rule whether a murder defendant’s statements were forced during an interrogation

A man recently charged with a 2001 murder

THURSDAY

Justice man indicted on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI

Former Village of Palos Park code enforcement officer accused of videotaping a minor in his Lockport bathroom

FRIDAY

A plea deal may be reached for an Oak Lawn man accused of battering a girl

Park Forest man charged with stalking and possession of child pornography

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