DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a Chicago man has been sentenced to twenty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for attempting to carjack a woman’s car from a Downers Grove gas station in September 2021. Demario Butler, 31 (d.o.b. 4/8/1991) appeared at his sentencing hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh, who handed down the sentence. On January 18, 2023, Butler entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking With a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Hinsdale Chief of Police Brian King announced that bond has been set for a Chicago man accused of breaking into a Hinsdale home. Franshawn Whittenburg, 50 (d.o.b. 1/10/1973) of 8400 block of South Peoria Street, appeared at a bond hearing yesterday morning where Judge Mia McPherson denied the State’s motion to deny bail and set bond at $500,000 with 10% to apply. Whittenburg is charged with one count of Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony). Because of Whittenburg’s criminal history however, if found guilty, he is subject to Mandatory Class X sentencing which carries a sentence of between six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Addison Director of Police Timothy Hayden announced today that four Cook County men have each been charged with two counts of Attempt Murder (Class X Felony) following a February 16, 2023, shooting in Addison. Brandon Pichardo, 23 (d.o.b. 10/19/1999) of the 8800 block of S. Harlem, Bridgeview, Damian Gonzales, 24 (d.o.b. 10/20/1998) of the 4600 block of S. California, Chicago, Irubiel Martinez, 19 (d.o.b. 4/12/2003) of the 4100 block of S. Campbell, Chicago and Efrain Garcia, 27 (d.o.b. 8/4/1995) of the 2500 block of W. 46th Place, Chicago, all appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Brian Jacobs set bond at $2 million with 10% to apply for all four men. In addition to the Attempt Murder charge, all four defendants are charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (Class X Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced today that bond has been denied for a Cook County man accused of firing a machine gun multiple times into a residential neighborhood in Villa Park. Curtis Lyons, 37 (d.o.b. 3/27/1985) of the 2000 block of 6th Avenue, Maywood, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Lyons is charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal, one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm and two counts of Unlawful Use of Weapon by a Felon - Machine Gun. All charges are a Class X Felony.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced today that bond has been denied for a Cook County man charged with Armed Habitual Criminal, among other offenses. Michael Ducksworth, 35 (d.o.b. 11/1/1987) of the 15000 block of Myrtle Street, Harvey, appeared at a bond hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Joshua Dieden who granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Ducksworth, who is presently on parole for a 2020 Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction out of Cook County, has been charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon While on Parole (Class 2 Felony), one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony) one count of Illegal Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanor traffic offenses including Fleeing or Eluding a Police Officer.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis announced that bond was set yesterday morning for a Chilean man charged with breaking into an Oak Brook home late last week. Anibal Miller-Valencia, 21 (d.o.b. 12/7/2001) appeared at a bond hearing yesterday where Judge Joseph Bugos set bond at $1.5 million with 10% to apply. Miller-Valencia has been charged with one count of Home Invasion (Class X Felony) and one count of Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony). If convicted, he faces a penalty of between six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

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2022 was an extremely busy one for public safety in DuPage County. We sat down with Bob to talk about some of his proudest accomplishments in the last year. Here’s what we came up with:

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Over the weekend, Bob Berlin appeared on WGN TV to discuss the SAFE-T Act’s recent amendment, how the law will give prosecutors a fair opportunity to detain violent defendants before trial and how judges will have more latitude in detaining defendants pre-trial.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Roy Newton announced today that bond has been denied for a man accused of opening fire at the Yorktown Mall last weekend. Ronald Grundy, 22 (d.o.b. 2/18/2000) of Louisville, Kentucky, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge John Kinsella granted the State’s motion to deny bond. On November 14, 2022, Grundy’s alleged accomplice, Jakobi Kinsey 24, (d.o.b. 8/11/1998) of the 3200 block of W. Douglas Boulevard, Chicago, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge Brian Telander set bond at $1 million with 10% to apply. Both men have been charged with three counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm – at a Person or Vehicle (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (Class X Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Addison Director of Police Timothy Hayden announced today that bond has been denied for an Addison man accused of killing his wife in their home earlier this week. Brahim Bakayoko, 44 (d.o.b. 7/30/1978) of the 1100 block of Trinity Drive, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Paul Marchese granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Bakayoko has been charged with one count of First-Degree Murder.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Wheaton Chief of Police William Murphy announced today that bond has been denied for the second of two men accused of robbing at gunpoint a Wheaton T-Mobile store. Imari Paxton, 24 (d.o.b. 12/14/1997) of the 7400 block of S. Colfax, Chicago, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Margaret O’Connell granted the State’s motion to deny bond. On October 19, 2022, Judge O’Connell granted the State’s motion to deny bond for Paxton’s alleged accomplice, Marcus Melton, 28 (d.o.b. 2/25/1994) of the 0-100 block of Ironwood Court, Lafayette, Indiana. Both men have been charged with seven counts of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony), three counts of Aggravated Kidnapping (Class X Felony), three counts of Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony) and three counts of Intimidation (Class 3 Felony). Paxton has also been charged with three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony) while Melton has been charged with four counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a Chicago man who hijacked a pregnant woman’s car from her driveway has been sentenced to forty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Daysean Washington-Davis, 22 (d.o.b. 7/12/2000), formerly of the 2200 block of Marshall Blvd., appeared in court yesterday where Judge Michael Reidy handed down the sentence. On April 25, 2022, Washington-Davis entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Vehicle Hijacking with a firearm, a Class X Felony. At the time of the offense, Washington-Davis was on bond out of Cook County for Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. On July 7, 2022, one of Washington-Davis’s co-defendants, Emanuel Embry, 22 (d.o.b. 12/28/1999) formerly of the 100 block of N. Wood Street, Chicago, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Vehicle Hijacking with a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 20, 2022, for setting. The case against another individual allegedly involved, Martavious Robinson, was originally charged in Juvenile Court. On August 10, 2020, the Court granted the State’s motion to transfer Robinson’s case to adult court. His case is currently pending.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that bond has been denied for a Chicago man accused of stabbing a female acquaintance multiple times about her stomach, neck and chest. Willie Tidwell, 50 (d.o.b. 8/29/1972) of the 300 block of W. North Avenue, appeared in Bond Court this morning where Judge George Ford granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Tidwell has been charged with one count of Attempt Murder (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Domestic Battery (Class 2 Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that following a double-jury trial, both juries have returned guilty verdicts against two men accused of killing twenty-six-year-old West Chicago resident Alexander Nicolas in November 2018. The jury’s verdicts follow a three-day trial against Juan Calderon, 24 (d.o.b. 9/27/1997) formerly of Aurora, and Emilio Guillen, 31 (d.o.b. 1/28/1991) formerly of Rockford, in front of Judge Michael Reidy. Following deliberations, the juries found both Calderon and Guillen guilty of one count of First-Degree Murder. On November 12, 2021, a third man, Fredi Bautista, 30 (d.o.b. 5/15/1992) formerly of West Chicago, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm (Class X Felony) for his involvement in the killing. Bautista’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2022, in front of Judge Reidy. Both men have been held in custody at the DuPage County Jail since the murder on bonds of $4 million with 10% to apply for Calderon and $2 million with 10% to apply for Guillen.

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When Illinois starts spending the $760 million it is getting from the nationwide settlement of lawsuits against prescription opioid distributors and a manufacturer, some of that money should be spent helping the youngest victims of the opioid crisis -- babies and toddlers -- some top prosecutors around the state say. "Tragically, children have been hit especially hard by the opioid epidemic," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said Wednesday at a news conference held by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Illinois chapter. "I want to stress how important it is a significant portion of these settlement funds are to be used to help young people who are in the crosshairs of this addiction. It is vital we help the youngest victims of the opiood crisis."

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin recently penned a guest column in the Daily Herald regarding the SAFE-T Act, the controversial legislation which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Governor J.B. Prtizker. The SAFE-T Act eliminated cash bail in Illinois and prevents judges from detaining violent offenders prior to trial.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis announced today that bond has been set for a trio of individuals accused of stealing merchandise from the Nordstrom Rack store near the Oak Brook mall. Doniesha Chew, 23 (d.o.b. 7/13/1999) of the 800 block of E. 153rd Street, Phoenix, Terrance Reed, 37 (d.o.b. 5/8/1985) of the 6000 block of S. Indiana Avenue, Chicago and Jaquay Shines, 25 (d.o.b. 1/4/1997) of the 6800 block of S. Throop Street, Chicago, each appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Michael Reidy set bond at $350,000 with 10% to apply for Chew, $350,000 with 10% to apply for Reed and $150,000 with 10% to apply for Shines. All three defendants have been charged with one count of Burglary (Class 2 Felony), one count of Aggravated Assault – Threaten with a Motor Vehicle (Class 3), one count of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property (Class 3 Felony) and three counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer (Class 4 Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Hanover Park Chief of Police Andrew Johnson announced today that bond has been denied for a Hanover Park man accused of shooting at a female motorist early yesterday morning. Reco Murray, 25 (d.o.b. 7/16/1997) of the 1800 block of Ontarioville Road, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Margaret O’Connell denied bond. Murray has been charged with one count of Attempt Murder (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm (Class 1 Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that the State’s motion to deny bail for a convicted felon accused of illegally possessing a loaded firearm and illegal drugs has been granted. Eugene Williams, 34 (d.o.b. 7/19/1988) of the 14000 block of Maryland Avenue, Dolton, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the State’s motion to deny bail. In all, Williams has been charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), one count of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), one count of Possession of MDMA with Intent to Deliver (Class X Felony), one count of Possession of Heroin with Intent to Deliver (Class 1 Felony), one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver (Class 3 Felony). Williams is currently out on bond awaiting trial on Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon charges.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced that on Sunday morning, the State’s motion to deny bail for a Chicago man accused of breaking into a Naperville home was granted. Adam Stone, 24 (d.o.b. 10/15/1997) of the 600 block of E. Groveland Park, appeared at a bond hearing Sunday morning where Judge Leah Bendik granted the State’s motion to deny bail. Stone is currently on probation out of Cook County after pleading guilty to aggravated domestic battery charges. In all, Stone has been charged with one count of Home Invasion – Causing Injury (Class X Felony) and three counts of Criminal Damage to Property (Class 4 Felony).

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