Crime & Safety
Murder Trial in Stabbing Death Delayed Again: Court Watch
Also, the three women, including one from Orland Park, accused of stealing cash from Carl Sandburg High School's cashier's office took pleas for misdemeanor theft charges Friday.
More than three years after the death of 18-year-old Felix Jimenez, family and friends still wait for the trial of Derek Grib, the man accused of killing 18-year-old Jimenez in July 2009.
Judge Frank Zelezinski ruled Dec. 10 that the trial date will be set at a status hearing scheduled for Jan. 3.
Prosecutor Rob Holland said in August that he truly believed the trial would take place in October, Jimenez's mother, Teresa Rivera, said months ago. But several status court dates have passed, and the trial is still not scheduled.
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Grib is accused of fatally stabbing Jimenez, an Oak Forest High School graduate who had military aspirations, at a party in Oak Forest on July 12, 2009. Jimenez died shortly after midnight the next day.
Patch rounds up the Southland's major criminal and civil cases being heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week.
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ORLAND PARK —
Two Worth women and a woman from Orland Park pleaded guilty to theft charges after accepting a plea deal.
Linda Nassar, 36, and Sally Quaraveh, 22, both of Worth, and Sabrina Yassin, 20, of Orland Park, each pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in front of Judge John J. Hynes in Bridgeview. Hynes sentenced the three women to 18 months of supervision each, as well as $230 in court fees and costs.
ORLAND PARK — Attorneys Question Age of Person Featured in Video in Child Porn Case
An attorney for an Orland Park man accused of possessing child pornography and stalking two girls said he may have evidence of the person's age in the video that led to the pornography charge.
James Shaver, 58, was arrested and charged with stalking in March of 2011, for reportedly stalking two girls, ages 9 and 11, and was later charged with possession of child porn after police say they found videos on his cell phone.
ORLAND PARK — Case of Drifter Accused in Sex Assault Continues
Dennis Dodson, a 36-year-old homeless man charged in the 2011 sexual assault of an 83-year-old woman, had a brief hearing this week. He is scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 17.
Police say , where he was living at the time. She had offered Dodson food and crackers two days prior, and returned to tell him she was working to find him a shelter, according to reports.
TINLEY PARK — Convicted Bank Fraudster Case Continues
William Stoecker, 54, , was back in a Bridgeview courtroom this week. His case has been continued until Jan. 29.
NEW LENOX — Fate of New Lenox Man in Mokena Coma Punch Trial in Judge's Hands
Nearly six months after it started, the trial of a New Lenox man charged with punching a Joliet man into a coma drew to a close. But the fate of Joseph Messina won't be known until Will County Judge Sarah Jones hands down her verdict Jan. 3. Messina, 24, waived his right to have a jury decide his guilt or innocence before the trial started in June.
Messina allegedly punched 29-year-old Eric Bartels in the face outside the Mokena bar 191 South in July 2009. When Bartels fell, his head struck the the concrete and he suffered a fractured skull.
FRANKFORT — Mom of Manhattan Man Killed in Fiery Frankfort Crash Sues Driver
The mother of a Manhattan man killed when the car he was riding in crashed and burst into flame has sued the New Lenox man who was driving.
Kim Stevens, the mother of Jake Stevens, 22, of Manhattan, has petitioned to be named the administrator of her dead son's estate. She simultaneously filed a lawsuit going after the man who was driving when her son was killed. The suit accuses Kevin Krohn, 22, of speeding and failing to keep a proper lookout. It does not accuse Krohn of driving drunk, but he faces a felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence.
ON THE DOCKET NEXT WEEK
MONDAY
- Homewood man charged with sex assault of child
- Five Indiana men charged in Ashford House brawl
- Justice man charged in fatal DUI crash
TUESDAY
- Orland man accused of sexually assailting 93-year-old dementia patient
- Man dubbed 'Orland Ghost Rider' charged with fleeing, eluding police
- Five teens charged in fatal shooting in Chicago Heights Park
WEDNESDAY
- Orland man charged in wife's shooting death
THURSDAY
- Orland man charged with beating, strangling 78-year-old father
- Teen charged in Granat murder case
- Man charged in Oak Lawn Radio shack robbery
