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Plainfield Police Blotter: Shattered Car Window; Attempted Truck Theft

February 4, 2013, 4:21 am
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Plainfield Police Blotter: Shattered Car Window; Attempted Truck Theft Patch Plainfield, IL --

*Jan. 18*

Christian Antiveros, 19, of the 200 block of Comstock, Joliet, was arrested by Plainfield police at 12:58 a.m. at the Phillips 66 station, 15809 S. Route 59, and charged with possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

*Jan. 21*

Someone shot a BB pellet through the driver's side window of a car parked in the 20000 block of Ardmore Circle in unincorporated Plainfield, according to Will County Sheriff's police.

*Jan. 25*

The driver of a 2002 Volvo semi-truck said he was driving his personal vehicle when he arrived at a location at Budler and Taylor roads and observed an unknown male running from the driver's side of the semi. The suspect was carrying a truck battery and ran to a green Pontiac Grand Prix, police said. The semi owner attempted to stop the suspect by driving his car in front of the Grand Prix, but the Grand Prix driver was able to drive away.

*Jan. 26*

William Kasten, 58, of the 300 block of Inner Circle Drive, Bolingbrook, was arrested by Plainfield police at 8:14 a.m. at 143rd Street and Van Dyke Road and charged with driving on a cancelled, suspended or revoked registration, police said.

*Jan. 28*

Cindy Cejudo, 21, of the 700 block of Wilder, Aurora, was arrested by Plainfield police at 8:45 a.m. at Renwick Road and Selfridge Way and charged with driving on a revoked or suspended license, according to police.

*Jan. 29*

Rogelio Saenz, 37, of the 500 block of Elwood Avenue, Joliet, was arrested by Plainfield police at 10:03 a.m. at Fort Beggs Drive and Route 59 and charged with driving on a revoked or suspended license, according to police.

Luis Castillo, 27, of the 500 block of Ashland, Aurora, was arrested by Plainfield police at 10:18 p.m. at Chicago and Illinois streets and charged with resisting/obstructing a peace officer, police said.

*Jan. 31*

David Alan Vendermeer, 30, of the 24000 block of Pleasant Court, Plainfield, was arrested by Will County Sheriff's police on an in-state warrant, police said. Reported by Patch 17 hours ago.
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Three Local Men Charged in Aurora Teen’s Death

February 4, 2013, 1:25 pm
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Patch Montgomery, IL --

An Aurora man is being charged with first-degree murder for the death of an 18-year-old Aurora woman whose body was found burned beyond recognition Saturday morning in Montgomery, according to the Aurora Beacon.

Juan Garnica Jr., 18, of the 400 block of East Ashland Avenue, was charged Sunday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson in the death of 18-year-old Abigail Villalpando, according to the Aurora Beacon.

Two other men, Jose Becerra, 20, from Oswego and Enrique Prado, 19, from Aurora, are being charged for concealing the murder, Aurora Police told the Beacon.

Garnica reportedly attacked Villalpando with a hammer while she was visiting Prado’s house and hid her body in the garage, according to Aurora Police. Later, Garnica burned Villalpando’s body in the backyard and then moved the body to a wooded area near Fifth Street and Waubansia Avenue in Montgomery where a Kane County Sheriff K-9 Unit discovered the body.

Read the full account at the *Aurora Beacon News*. Reported by Patch 8 hours ago.
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Man Convicted in '98 Murder of Batavia Worker, Geneva Family's Son

February 4, 2013, 1:25 pm
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Man Convicted in '98 Murder of Batavia Worker, Geneva Family's Son Patch Montgomery, IL --

A 35-year-old Aurora man is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted in a 1998 double murder, a case that went unsolved for more than a decade, officials said.

Jaime M. Diaz, formerly of the 1600 block of North Marywood Avenue, Aurora, was convicted Jan. 31 by a Kane County jury of two counts of first-degree murder. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office sent out information on the conviction on Friday.

The jury deliberated for about three hours before returning with its verdict.

Those lost in the 1998 double murder were 21-year-old Elias Calcano of Aurora and Brendon P. Anderson. Anderson moved with his family to Geneva in 1994. In 1997 he moved to an apartment in North Aurora and worked in Batavia packing orders at Flinn Scientific Inc., the Chicago Tribune reports.

At about midnight on March 16, 1998, Diaz went to the Aurora home of his girlfriend and found her and her sister in a car with Anderson and Calcano. The car belonged to Anderson. Diaz’s girlfriend previously had a relationship with Anderson. She testified that she was friends with Calcano. Diaz knew Calcano and possibly knew Anderson, according to the State's Attorney's Office.

Several hours later, Anderson, Calcano, Diaz and a fourth man were in Anderson’s car, parked in an alley off New York Street in Aurora. Diaz and the fourth man were in the backseat, Anderson was in the driver’s seat and Calcano was in the front passenger seat. Diaz pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot Anderson and Calcano, once each in the back of the head. The fourth man immediately fled.

Diaz then beat Calcano about the head and face with the butt of the gun, causing multiple broken bones and knocking out an entire tooth, according to the State's Attorney's Office. Diaz pulled the bodies from the car and left the scene on foot.

Diaz returned a short time later, doused the bodies and the surrounding area with gasoline and set them on fire. Anderson’s body was badly burned. Authorities think that Anderson and Calcano died before Diaz set the fire.

The case was uncharged for more than 10 years until credible evidence surfaced that pointed to Diaz as the killer. A beer bottle that was in Anderson’s car at the murder scene was found to contain Diaz’s DNA. The fourth man testified at the trial that Diaz was drinking a bottle of beer at the scene before the murders took place.

Circuit Judge Karen Simpson set Diaz’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in Courtroom 311 for motions and to set a sentencing date. Diaz faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison because he was convicted of two murders.

Diaz has been held in the Kane County jail since his arrest. That's 1,074 days in custody through Feb. 3, according to jail records.

When the case was charged in 2008, the state declared its intent to seek a sentence of death. However, Illinois lawmakers repealed the death penalty in 2011.

“The law eventually catches up to killers," Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a prepared statement. "There usually is evidence and a witness who knows the facts. Sometimes it requires patience, but the truth eventually is revealed. I hope that the families of Brandon Anderson and Elias Calcano can find some measure of peace and justice now that their killer has been convicted and faces the maximum penalty that the laws of the state of Illinois allow.

“My thanks to Investigator Greg Spayth of the Aurora Police Department for his hard work and perseverance in this case, and to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Greg Sams and Deborah Lang, who prosecuted this case.”

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*Let Patch save you time. Have local stories delivered straight to your inbox with our free* Batavia Patch daily newsletter*.
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*You can also follow along on the *Batavia Patch Facebook page*.*

-------------------- Reported by Patch 8 hours ago.
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Man Convicted in '98 Murder of Batavia Worker, Geneva Resident

February 4, 2013, 6:11 pm
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Man Convicted in '98 Murder of Batavia Worker, Geneva Resident Patch Geneva, IL --

A 35-year-old Aurora man is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted in a 1998 double murder, a case that went unsolved for a decade, officials said.

Jaime M. Diaz, formerly of the 1600 block of North Marywood Avenue, Aurora, was convicted Jan. 31 by a Kane County jury of two counts of first-degree murder. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office sent out information on the conviction on Friday.

The jury deliberated for about three hours before returning with its verdict.

At about midnight on March 16, 1998, Diaz went to the Aurora home of his girlfriend and found her and her sister in a car with Brendon P. Anderson, 21, of Geneva and Elias Calcano, 21, of Aurora. The car belonged to Anderson. Diaz’s girlfriend previously had a relationship with Anderson and, she testified that she was friends with Calcano. Diaz knew Calcano and possibly knew Anderson.

Several hours later, Anderson, Calcano, Diaz and a fourth man were in Anderson’s car, parked in an alley off New York Street in Aurora. Diaz and the fourth man were in the back seat, Anderson was in the driver’s seat and Calcano was in the front passenger seat. Diaz pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot Anderson and Calcano, once each in the back of the head. The fourth man immediately fled.

Diaz then beat Calcano about the head and face with the butt of the gun, causing multiple broken bones and knocking out a tooth, according to the State's Attorney's Office. Diaz pulled the bodies from the car and left the scene on foot.

Diaz returned a short time later, doused the bodies and the surrounding area with gasoline and set them on fire. Authorities think that Anderson and Calcano died before Diaz set the fire.

The case was uncharged for more than 10 years until credible evidence surfaced that pointed to Diaz as the killer. A beer bottle that was in Anderson’s car at the murder scene was found to contain Diaz’s DNA. The fourth man testified at the trial that Diaz was drinking a bottle of beer at the scene before the murders took place.

Circuit Judge Karen Simpson set Diaz’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20 in Courtroom 311 for motions and to set a sentencing date. Diaz faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison because he was convicted of two murders.

Diaz has been held in the Kane County jail since his arrest.

When the case was charged in 2008, the state declared its intent to seek a sentence of death. However, Illinois lawmakers repealed the death penalty in 2011.

“The law eventually catches up to killers," Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a prepared statement. "There usually is evidence and a witness who knows the facts. Sometimes it requires patience, but the truth eventually is revealed. I hope that the families of Brandon Anderson and Elias Calcano can find some measure of peace and justice now that their killer has been convicted and faces the maximum penalty that the laws of the state of Illinois allow.

“My thanks to Investigator Greg Spayth of the Aurora Police Department for his hard work and perseverance in this case, and to Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Greg Sams and Deborah Lang, who prosecuted this case.” Reported by Patch 3 hours ago.
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Range of Snowfall Totals Reported Across Northern Illinois

February 4, 2013, 8:53 pm
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Range of Snowfall Totals Reported Across Northern Illinois Patch Buffalo Grove, IL --

Curious about how much snow fell over northern Illinois last night?

The National Weather Service in Chicago released its list of snowfall totals from Sunday night through Monday morning. A the high end of the reported observations—largely from emergency management personnel, trained spotters and local residents—was Rockford with 4 inches of snow. Conversely, Rochelle in Ogle County saw just a half-inch.

Here's a look at a sampling of snowfall totals from around the region:

· Elk Grove Village, 3.5
· Streamwood, 3.5
· Huntley, 3.5
· St. Charles, 3.1
· Barrington, 2.8
· Elgin, 2.6
· Palatine, 2.6
· Arlington Heights, 2.6
· Mundelein, 2.6
· Park Ridge, 2.5
· Oak Brook, 2.4
· Cary, 2.3
· Highwood, 2.2
· Hawthorn Woods, 2.1
· Oak Park, 2
· Lincolnshire, 2
· Riverwoods, 1.8
· Gurnee, 1.5
· Naperville, 1.2
· Aurora, .7

*How much snow fell in your neighborhood? Tell us in the comments.* Reported by Patch 34 minutes ago.
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3 Charged In Aurora Teen's Burning Death

February 4, 2013, 10:46 am
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An Aurora, Ill. teen was ordered held on $5 million bail Monday in the "exceptionally brutal" beating death of an 18-year-old woman who was the first homicide victim in Illinois' second-largest city since 2011.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Juan Garnica Jr., 18, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Abigail Villalpando, who was also of Aurora.

Two other teens -- Enrique Prado, 19, and Jose Becerra, 20 -- were also charged with concealing Villalpando's death.

Villalpando, a senior at West Aurora High School, was reported missing by her family around 2:30 a.m. Friday when she was a no-show for her work shit on Thursday, the Daily Herald reports.

Police found Villalpando's car around 10:40 a.m. Friday underneath the High Street Bridge over the tracks of the Burlington Northern Railroad. Inside the car was Villalpando's body "burned beyond recognition," according to NBC Chicago. Dental records were used to confirm Villalpando's identity.

Police say that Garnica beat Villalpando to death with a hammer at Prado's home on Thursday before he stuffed her body in a container and hid it in Prado's garage before transporting it to the spot where Villalpando was found inside the torched vehicle, the Herald reports. No motive has been disclosed.

Aurora, Illinois' second-most populous city, finished 2012 with zero homicides -- a stark contrast to Chicago's 516. Aurora's population is 200,000 and the city is located about 40 miles west of Chicago, which already logged at least 42 homicides as of last month. Reported by Huffington Post 11 hours ago.
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Bison Gross, Harris Win CVC Championships

February 4, 2013, 12:23 pm
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Bison Gross, Harris Win CVC Championships Patch Beachwood, OH --

Submitted by BeachwoodBison.org:

Beachwood juniors *Sammy Gross* and *Ryan Harris* won individual titles in Saturday’s Chagrin Valley Conference wrestling tournament at Kenston High School. Beachwood finished in third place, behind back-to-back league champion Perry and Kenston.

While Gross and Harris were favored to win their respective weight classes, other Bison wrestlers raised the bar in the league tournament.

Senior *Alex Angersola* finished second at 145, juniors *Trevor Sanshuck* (170) and *Paul Flowers* (182) both took second and junior*Andrew Kitay* finished sixth at 152.

“I’m starting to get high expectations, because my guys have lost some matches this year against guys I think they should have beaten where I’d come back and tell them they’re better than that,” said Beachwood head coach *Dugan Bentley*. “We’ve got to start beating guys like that and that’s what they did today. We coach them pretty well and they’re in pretty good shape. I think until today they’ve been kind of underachieving.”

Gross, the 120-pound champion, won his first league championship after finishing second in 2012 and third in 2011. He did it by beating a familiar foe, Berkshire’s *T.J. Malkus*, a state qualifier last season.

The two have had some close matches in the past but in Saturday’s championship bout Gross cruised to a 20-7 major decision.

“It feels pretty good (to win his first league championship),” Gross said. “I wanted to go out and dominate and I think for the most part that’s what I did.”

Harris, who defended his title won last season, appeared in the finals for the third straight season. He finished second in 2011.

The 160-pound weight class championship match featured two defending champions and Harris and Perry’s*Alec Schenk*, who won at 145 last season. Harris dominated the match to win with a 12-3 major decision.

“I think Ryan took care of business tonight,” Bentley said. The kid kept coming and usually if a kid keeps coming, Ryan keeps scoring and that’s what he did.”

Angersola advanced to the 145-pound finals, where he dropped a 5-3 decision to Perry’s *Drew Jones*, the 2012 152-pound champion.

“There was a lot he could have done differently and he gave up a reversal at the end of the first period and that really put us in a bad situation,” Bentley said. ‘All in all, it was a good learning process for him.”

Kitay reached the 152-pound semifinals then dropped his next three matches, including a 4-3 decision to West Geauga’s *Rob Alcorn* in the consolation semifinals. He settled for sixth place.

Bentley sees a lot to like in Kitay’s development this season and with continued improvement he’s confident the junior could make a post-season run.

“It’s a little frustrating when Andrew puts himself in really awkward positions,” Bentley said. “He has some easy scoring situations he doesn’t identify but he’s still learning.”

Sanshuck recorded two pins and a 10-6 win over West Geauga’s *David Eippert*, fourth a season ago, to advance to the 170-pound final. He lost to defending champion *Ryan Sill* of Perry, 3-1.

“He lost trying to make something happen and I’m OK with that,” Bentley said.

The match was scoreless after the first period and Sill took at 1-0 lead in the second. A Sanshuck escape tied it in the third but Sill countered a Sanshuck takedown attempt to win the match.

Flowers knocked off top-seeded *Brian McNamara* of Aurora in the semifinals to reach the 182-pound championship bout but couldn’t finish off his tournament run with a title.

“He had a really good first period but things fell apart for him,” Bentley said. “Being there was good for him. He’ll be fine; he just has to keep improving.”

Overall, Bentley was pleased with his team’s performance in its last big event before the post-season begins at the Beachwood Division III sectional tournament on Feb. 15-16.

“We’ve identified the problems in our losses and we’ll week working at improving,” he said. “We’ll keep working to get them to the next level.”

*Results:*

1.Perry 253.5 2.Kenston 159.5 3.Beachwood 147 4.Aurora 121.5 5.Cuyahoga Hts 121.5 6.Kirtland 119 7.Cardinal 106 8.Harvey 100.5 9.Independence 95 10.Berkshire 84 11.Hawken 81 12.West Geauga 61 13.Orange 42 14.Newbury 27 15.Wickliffe 22 16.Chagrin Falls 6 17.Richmond Hts 6

*106* 1st Demarco (Hawken) dec Orr (Cuy Hts) 7-3; 3rd Neikirk(Cardinal) dec Whitelaw(Aurora) 6-5; 5th Toth (Perry) & Georgian (Kenston).

*113* 1st Dees(Perry) Fall Mast (Cardinal) 1:48; 3rd Pucci(Cuy Hts) MDec Mroczynski(Independ) 15-2; 5th Mcclain(Harvey) TF Herbruck(Kenston)18-3.

*120* 1st Gross(Beachwood) MD Malkus(Berkshire)20-7; 3rd Petersen(Aurora) Dec Spino(Independ)10-6;5th Calvert(Kirtland) & Kadas(Cuy Hts).

*126 *1st Francis(Kirtland) Dec Frye(Cuy Hts)2-1; 3rd Peters(Cardinal) Dec Venturini(West Geauga)2-1; 5th Gramberg (Perry) & Regalbutto (Orange).

*132 *1st Gessic(Perry) MDec Johns(Cardinal)14-1; 3rd Kirsh(Orange) Fall Nowak(Newbury) 4:20; 5th Driscoll (Aurora) & McManus (Cuy Hts).

*138* 1st Davidson(Kirtland) by DQ Charvat(Berkshire); 3rd Walden (Beachwood) & Montague (Independ); 5th Bauer (kenston) & Blogna (Cuy Hts).

*145* 1st Jones(Perry) Dec Angersola(Beachwood)5-3; 3rd Evans (Aurora) & Disanto (kentson) 5th Fomaro 9west Geauga) & Kaser (Berkshire).

*152 *1st King(Hawken) Dec Turner(Harvey) 4-3; 3rd Alcorn (west Geauga) & Mrosko (Perry); 5th Gambatese(Kenston) MD Kitay(Beachwood)10-1.

*160* 1st Harris(Beachwood) MD Schenk(Perry) 12-3; 3rd Sealey(Harvey) Dec Miller(Cardinal) 4-1; 5th Sia (Independ) & Ostoyic (Kenston).

*170* 1st Sill(Perry) Dec Sanshuck(Beachwood) 3-1; 3rd Eippert(West Geauga) Fall Kondik(Kenston) 4:15; 5th Guajardo(Harvey) Dec Christian(Hawken) 5-3.

*182* 1st Simon(Berkshire) MD Flowers(Beachwood) 10-0; 3rd Cales(Perry) Dec Mcnamara(Aurora) 6-4; 5th Frygier(Kenston) Dec Grice(Harvey) 6-0.

*195* 1st Brettrager(Kirtland) Fall Stotter(Hawken) 3:09; 3rd Lewis(Kenston) Fall Suchovsky(Aurora) 2:26; 5th Haavisto(Wickliffe MD Jones(Cuy Hts) 12-4.

*220* 1st Nichols(Perry) Fall Scotton(Independ) 2:52; 3rd Carrasco(Aurora) MD Williams(Harvey) 11-3; 5th Yoho(Kenston) Fall Qualls(Newbury).

*285 *1st Miller(Perry) TF Lewis(Kenston) 18-3; 3rd Burger(Aurora) Dec Deely(Independ) 2-0; 5th Diemer(Kirtland) Fall Rice(Harvey). Reported by Patch 9 hours ago.
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Aurora to add 18 inpatient beds in Grafton

February 4, 2013, 11:48 am
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Aurora Health Care will build out its Grafton hospital by adding 18 inpatient beds. The Grafton hospital, which opened in November 2010, was designed to accommodate expansion “if patient volumes warranted,” Brad Hahn, executive vice president with Milwaukee-based Aurora said Monday in an email to employees. “Now that the hospital has been operating at full capacity for some time — steadily and even sooner than anticipated — we know the time is right for expansion,” Hahn said. Aurora… Reported by bizjournals 10 hours ago.
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Patch's Poll: Should the Media Use 12/14 Instead of 'Newtown' or 'Sandy Hook'?

February 4, 2013, 6:35 pm
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Patch's Poll: Should the Media Use 12/14 Instead of 'Newtown' or 'Sandy Hook'? Patch East Hampton-Portland, CT --

Newtown resident MaryAnn Murtha has written an opinion piece that's been read all over the world during the last week.

The piece, which was published on Patch as well as other outlets, asks the public and the media to refer to the December attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School as 12/14 instead of "Newtown" or "Sandy Hook." Twenty-six  children and educators died in the massacre by a gunman, and as Murtha points out, the numbers 12 and 14 add up to 26.

Murtha says:                  

"Many have asked, What can we do? Well, here’s my answer: For the sake of the victims, their families, Sandy Hook and Newtown, call the shooting 12/14.

"The national media have, insensitively, begun to call 12/14 “Sandy Hook” or 'Newtown.' Listening to TV the other night, I heard someone say, 'We just don’t want another Newtown.' Ouch.

"Our friends in Columbine know. Our friends in Aurora know. Our friends in Oklahoma City know. Having your town’s name synonymous with an evil act does not aid the healing process; in fact, it adds to the pain and casts shadows. Here in Newtown, we have seen enough darkness. We need your light, your love and your support."

Will Murtha's suggestion work?

*Take our poll and tell us in the comments.* Reported by Patch 3 hours ago.
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Brian Young: The Department of Justice? Not for Wall Street

February 4, 2013, 3:00 pm
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For anyone who watched last week's PBS Frontline documentary, The Untouchables, it's pretty clear that the reason that we have not seen one single banker brought to justice for criminal wrongdoing in the mortgage crisis is because the Department of Justice has had the wrong Sheriff in charge. Lanny Breuer, the Assistant Attorney General in charge of financial prosecutions, has consistently shot down virtually all potential fraud cases, explaining that they were simply too hard to prosecute.

His attitude toward the banks was shockingly protective and certainly not prosecutorial. In fact, Breuer was quoted during a speech at the New York Bar Association last fall saying that he was "losing sleep at night over worrying about what a lawsuit might result in at a large financial institution." In spite of mountains of evidence from whistleblowers and private firms, the Department of Justice has not filed any criminal charges against banks related to the mortgage crisis.

Thankfully, as President Obama begins his second term, we may have a second chance at justice. Last week news leaked that Lanny Breuer is stepping down, after nearly four wasted years at DOJ. Now with Mary Jo White at the head of the SEC and Richard Cordray at the Consumer Protection Bureau, there's a chance that winds of change might finally be blowing and the executives who knowingly sold bad mortgages to reap huge profits while bankrupting our economy may finally be held to account. But it's not a given, and the time for bringing these banks to justice for their crime is quickly running out, since the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions in fraud cases is, in most cases, five years.

Let's face facts: We know that Wall Street is extremely powerful, if for no other reason than the fact that the government seems afraid to hold them accountable. Imagine if this level of scandal had happened in any other industry. For example, let's say that a car company knowingly sold millions of cars with faulty brake systems. Through emails, phone records, and maybe a whistleblower -- this information comes to light after car owners die in accidents, or were otherwise maimed and injured. Most reasonable people would agree that the best way to respond would be to force the automaker into a mandatory recall to fix the brakes on all the cars, compensate the victims, and, to the degree that the manufacturers knew this was a problem, prosecute them to the full extent of the law in criminal and civil court. This is not what has happened to banks who knowingly sold bad mortgages to people who could not afford them, then sold them off to investors in the market bundled into AAA rated securities.

So, why is criminal court off the table in the financial sector? Well, maybe the harm is not as severe, one might argue. But that's simply not true. In fact, in some cases the trauma and harm caused by foreclosure can be more devastating and far reaching in a community than any car accident.

Take Ana and Jose Mendez from Springfield, Mass. After they fell behind in their mortgage payments due to a loss of income, they did what millions of families were told to do -- they contacted the bank. Aurora Bank offered them a temporary trial modification, like millions of other families. The Mendez family obliged and paid for six consecutive months. At the end of the trial period, Aurora Bank refused a permanent modification and offered another trial. The family obliged again and paid for six more months at a higher price -- hoping that this time they would get a permanent modification. At the end of that period, Aurora again refused a permanent modification and offered one last six-month trial modification. The Mendez family paid those six months. At the end of 18 months of trial payments, Aurora Bank refused to permanently modify the loan and foreclosed.

Jose Mendez expressed his frustration to a local CBS News Affiliate in Springfield, stating, "I don't understand the logic that the banks use to evict our communities, all these buildings stay empty without any benefit to our communities."

The Mendez family struggle is ongoing. Aurora Bank FSB, which is the legacy of the now defunct Lehman Brothers refused to accept the Mendez family's offer to pay rent and is now no longer negotiating in good faith. Aurora Bank has chosen to proceed with eviction. The Mendez family is willing to move if Aurora Bank can find a buyer who signs an affidavit to move into the home, but the bank would rather leave the home vacant than work with the family.

This is just one example of the thousands of families whose lives have been upended without any recourse or justice. If anyone else stole rent for a home from a family, we would haul them into court. Who will stand up for the Mendez family in court?

That's why it is so critical that bankers who committed criminal fraud be held to account for their crimes. Any criminal justice expert will tell you that if there is no punishment, there is no deterrent. Bankers need a deterrent to prevent them from cooking up the next crisis that will bankrupt America.

The Campaign for a Fair Settlement and Corporate Action Network are working to shine a spotlight on stories of those whose lives were ruined by Wall Street crime during the first 100 days of President Obama's second term. We're telling these stories because we must have justice. With the statute of limitations running out, it's imperative that the administration makes it a priority to replace Lanny Breuer with someone who will actually prosecute the banks and bankers who wreaked havoc on so many lives.

The paltry settlements that homeowners will receive based on the decisions now being made in the civil court will not make those homeowners whole. Meanwhile, banks and the executives who run them got huge government bailouts. There's a reason why petty criminals are forced to pay restitution, and the reason is simple justice. Bankers are no different from the rest of us. In his radio address on the nominations of Mary Jo White and Richard Cordray, President Obama stated that "we [...] need cops on the beat to enforce the law." Campaign for a Fair Settlement, Corporate Action Network, and homeowners in foreclosure will spend what's left of these first 100 days making sure President Obama gets someone at the Justice Department who will do just that. Reported by Huffington Post 6 hours ago.
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Aurora native and Navy leader receives NAACP Image Award

February 4, 2013, 3:48 pm
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Navy Vice Admiral Michelle Howard, a 1978 graduate of Gateway High School in Aurora, was honored during an NBC television special Friday night, "The 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards." Reported by Denver Post 6 hours ago.
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85% Tabu

February 4, 2013, 6:32 pm
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Acclaimed director Miguel Gomes returns with a sumptuous, eccentric two-part tale centered on Aurora, shown first as an impulsive, cantankerous elderly woman in present-day Lisbon. When Aurora is hospitalized, she sends her neighbor, Pilar, to pass... Reported by Rotten Tomatoes 3 hours ago.
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Aurora teen's slaying shocks friends, family

February 4, 2013, 8:24 pm
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Police arrest 3 men after suburb's first homicide since 2011 Reported by ChicagoTribune 1 hour ago.
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Police Blotter: DUI, Retail Theft, Car Window Smashed, Stolen Jewelry

February 5, 2013, 5:16 am
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Patch Naperville, IL --

**Friday, Feb. 1**

*Driving under the influence*

Juan Navarro, 22, was arrested at 1:26 a.m. near Schumacher Lane and Sanctuary Lane, Naperville Police Department said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.

*Retail theft arrest*

Ricardo De Souza Lisboa, 18, was arrested at 8:47 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Route 59, police said. He was charged with retail theft. He posted bond.

**Saturday, Feb. 2**

*Driving under the influence*

Christopher Patrick Kotrba, 49, was arrested at 12:08 a.m. near aurora Avenue and South West Street, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond. 

*Possession of cannabis*

Carlos Perez-Garcia, 21, was arrested at 11:57 p.m. in the 0-99 block of West Jefferson Avenue, police said. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to DuPage County Jail. 

*Criminal trespass*

Scott Andrew Covey, 23, was arrested at 11:56 p.m. in the 0-99 block of West Jefferson Avenue, police said. He was charged with criminal trespass to land. He posted bond. 

**Sunday, Feb. 3**

*Driving under the influence*

· Carl Edward Vonderhorst, 35, was arrested at 1:35 a.m. near 11th Street and South Route 59, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond. 
· Meagan Elizabeth Bannon, 24, was arrested at 2:12 a.m. near Oswego Road and Oakhurst Drive, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She posted bond. 

*No insurance*

Joel R. Perez, 31, was arrested at 1:09 p.m. near Industrial Drive and North Aurora Road, police said. He was charged with operating a vehicle without insurance. He was transported to DuPage County Jail. 

*Warrant arrest*

Deon V. Hamlin, 42, was arrested at 5:01 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Route 59, police said. He was charged on a failure-to-appear warrant and was transported to DuPage County Jail. 

*Suspended/revoked license*

Corbin Winston, 24, was arrested at 7:56 p.m. in the 600 block of Amersale Drive, police said. He was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. 

*Possession of cannabis*

· Lisa Renee Elkins, 25, was arrested at 9:38 p.m. in the 1800 block of Centre Point Circle, police said. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis. She posted bond. 
· Patrick Joseph Heinz, 30, was arrested at 9:31 p.m. in the 1800 block of Centre Point Circle, police said. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis. He posted bond.

*Stolen jewelry*

Someone stole jewelry from a jewelry box in the an apartment in the 1000 block of Aurora Avenue, police said. 

*Neighbor dispute*

A man reported that he was threatened by his neighbor because he suspected him of slashing his tires in the 2100 block of Allegre Circle, police said.

*Window smashed*

A 1998 Cadillac Deville had its front passenger-side window broken out and the powered rear-view mirror was removed in the 300 block of South Route 59, police said.

*Cellphone, bag stolen*

A small bag and cellphone were stolen from a room in the 1600 block of Warbler Drive, police said. Reported by Patch 1 day ago.
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DUI Charge for Man Driving on Wrong Side of the Road: Sheriff

February 5, 2013, 4:07 am
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DUI Charge for Man Driving on Wrong Side of the Road: Sheriff Patch Channahon-Minooka, IL --

*Sunday, Feb. 3*

*Driving with revoked license*

Joseph E. Kennedy, 50, of the 200 block of Mill, Yorkville, was arrested at 9:12 a.m. at Route 71 and Van Emmon Road and charged for driving with a revoked license, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Deputies stopped Kennedy for originally driving without headlights when atmospheric conditions required them to be turned on. Saturday, Feb. 2

*Criminal trespass to property*

Tye Preston Warden, 47, of the 900 block of Highland Avenue, Aurora, was arrested at 11:40 p.m. in the 0-99 block of Commerce Drive and charged with criminal trespass to property, according to the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on private property in a closed industrial park.

*Friday, Feb. 1*

*DUI, property damage accident*

David Saltijeral Jr., 22, of the 300 block of Twinleaf Trail, Yorkville was arrested at 6:06 p.m. at Oak Street and Cannon Ball Trail, Bristol and charged for driving under the influence, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Deputies received reports of an apparently intoxicated person driving southbound on Cannonball Trail in a northbound lane. Deputies also discovered Saltijeral had damaged a pedestrian crossing sign and was also cited for improper lane usage and no proof of insurance, according to reports. 

*Wednesday, Jan. 30*

*No valid driver’s license*

Kenneth J. Lahvic, 36, of the 100 block of Heathgate Road, Montgomery, was arrested at 11:21 a.m. at Heathgate and Springdale Roads and charged for driving without a valid license, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office.

*In-state warrant*

Heather M. Linden, 24, of the 0-99 block of Pembrook Road, Montgomery, was arrested at 5:55 p.m. in the 0-99 block of Pembrook Road and charged with an in-state warrant, said the Kendall County Sheriff’s office. Deputies had responded in an attempt to apprehend Linden on a warrant out of the Aurora Police Department for contributing to a curfew violation.

*Tuesday, Jan. 29*

*Criminal damage to property*

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported verbal domestic dispute that occurred at 6:57 p.m. in the 0-99 block of Bereman Road, Oswego. During the investigation they found that a television and cellular phone had been damaged, but no charges were filed due to the victims not wishing to complete complaints. Reported by Patch 1 day ago.
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Aurora police to receive seizure training as part of $100K settlement

February 5, 2013, 11:40 am
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Aurora police officers are receiving training to spot and handle seizure-sufferers as part of a settlement to a federal lawsuit filed by a man who said officers needlessly assaulted him while he Reported by Denver Post 20 hours ago.
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Crain's Reports Layoffs Coming for Companies Including Walgreen's and Sun-Times Media

February 5, 2013, 8:35 pm
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Crain's Reports Layoffs Coming for Companies Including Walgreen's and Sun-Times Media Patch Highland Park, IL --

Nine companies are reportedly preparing for nearly 1,200 layoffs throughout Illinois, including Walgreen's, Kmart and Sun-Times Media, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

Deerfield-based Walgreen's, which reported strong January sales due to the bad flu season, will reportedly lay off 65 warehouse workers in west suburban Berkeley. Kmart, part of Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp., plans to lay off 98 employees when it closes a Naperville store in the spring, reported Crain's.

Sun-Times Media, publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times and other suburban papers, warns that 274 jobs in Glenview, Tinley Park and Aurora could be eliminated due to consolidation. Reported by Patch 11 hours ago.
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Bolingbrook Church Pastor: 'We're Not a Threat to Anyone'

February 5, 2013, 6:43 pm
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Bolingbrook Church Pastor: 'We're Not a Threat to Anyone' Patch Bolingbrook, IL --

Ultimate Faith Christian Center in Bolingbrook hopes to move to a larger space to better suit its growing congregation. 

The center, which currently operates out of a storefront along W. Boughton Rd. near Tailgater's, looks to move to a vacated Walgreens property at the corner of Janes Avenue and 83rd Street. The Bolingbrook plan commission will vote to approve or reject the move at a meeting Wednesday. 

The move has raised the ire of some Woodridge Patch readers, who fear the church's move will bring "drug addicts, ex-cons and the homeless" to their neighborhood. In specific, readers raised concern about community safety and the proximity of "drug addicts and ex-cons" to Woodridge's Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park.

Readers point to perceived threat to their safety based on a mission statement on Ultimate Faith's website that the church's "mission is to minister to those that have been given up on, the homeless, ex-offenders and those with addictions to teach them the word of God."

Ultimate Faith is "not a threat to anyone," said George Guilford, pastor and founder of Ultimate Faith. "We are upstanding Christian citizens." 

George Guilford, pastor and founder of Ultimate Faith, said that mission statement was crafted 10 years ago. While his church will serve any person who enters the church who has struggled with these issues and minister to him or her, the church does not "load up a bus-load of criminals."

Most of his 70-person congregation have children. They're business owners or white-collar workers, he said. They travel from Naperville, Joliet, Woodridge and Aurora. 

Guilford said his ministry has changed hundreds of lives. Ultimate Faith has traveled to homeless shelters and the south and west sides of Chicago to distribute Bibles and minister to people. Just one success story: a woman in the congregation who was previously homeless is now buying a home.

Ultimate Faith has operated previously out of a beauty shop on Frontage Road in Bolingbrook and out of the Bolingbrook Park District. 

"We've never had any complaints, and we've never had any disturbances," Guilford said. "There are houses right behind (our current location), and some of the people who live in the houses behind us come to the church." 

Guilford said he has been homeless and was in prison. "But that's the old me," Guilford said. After he became a Christian, "the wait of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I felt that God had saved me and delivered me from all my demons, and my misery had become my mission." 

Now he has founded a church, become a minister and his children (Bolingbrook High School grads) are attending college on full-ride scholarships or performing academically at the top of their class, he said. 

Ultimate Faith hopes to move to the former Walgreens location as soon as possible, Guilford said, and install carpeting, a sound system and a stage. 

"It's a church," Guilford said. "It's not going to have a strip club."  Reported by Patch 13 hours ago.
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Jewel to close 3 stores -- in Chicago, Aurora, Niles

February 5, 2013, 7:14 pm
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Move that affects 300 employees not related to sale to Cerberus, president says Reported by ChicagoTribune 12 hours ago.
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Three Women Arrested in Prostitution Sting at Bridgeville Massage Parlor

February 6, 2013, 4:59 am
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Three Women Arrested in Prostitution Sting at Bridgeville Massage Parlor Patch Chartiers Valley, PA --

Police heard rumblings of a prostitution ring at 88 Spa in Bridgeville not long after the massage parlor opened in the borough’s main business district in October 2011.

But investigators said they had to be patient to collect evidence and then work with federal authorities to find out if the ring also involved human trafficking or organized crime.

“We had info from neighboring businesses that it was pretty obviously what was going on there,” Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said. “But knowing something and proving it are two different things.”

By last July, King said they had enough evidence to make a case and contacted the FBI to ramp up the investigation. Federal investigators set up surveillance on the spa located across from Bridgeville’s main parking lot and sent in undercover agents.



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King said they had been preparing the raid over the past month to make sure all agencies were on the same page.

A little past noon on Tuesday, an undercover police officer went into the spa and was allegedly offered “services.” He immediately notified authorities waiting outside and they arrested three women inside the massage parlor.

King said they arrested Ok Ja Ko, 52, of Aurora, Colo., Chong Hee Kil, 57, of Glenview Ill., and Heemae Jong, 58, of Fort Lee, N.J., on prostitution and conspiracy charges. Their preliminary hearings before District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet are scheduled for Feb. 11.

Bridgeville police also plan to cite the owner of the building, Kevin Biber, who is the tax collector for South Fayette Township and the school district. King said Biber denied knowing of the prostitution ring inside his building when interviewed by investigators Tuesday. But the police chief said he will still be cited for “keeping or maintaining a disorderly house” in accordance with borough code.

“He owns the building, so ultimately he’s responsible for everyone who’s in there,” King said.

King said the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are now investigating if human trafficking or organized crime was involved in the prostitution ring.

He also thanked the community and town’s business leaders for their patience while investigators made sure they had enough evidence to raid the massage parlor.

“I want to thank them for being patient,” King said. “I hope they understand that this dealt with more than just prostitution.”



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*

 Reported by Patch 3 hours ago.
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