crime

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$3 million bond set for ex-Chicago cop charged with allegedly shooting, killing wife on her 68th birthday

Bond was increased Thursday to $3 million for a former Chicago police officer accused of shooting and killing his wife in their Spring Grove home last week.

Lorin Volberding, 71, was brought out before McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather in a wheelchair as prosecutors asked to increase his bond from $1 million to $5 million.

Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Zalud said Volberding is a “significant danger” to himself and others.

Zalud said Volberding’s home is valued at $299,000 therefore he could potentially post the required 10 percent of the lower bond. He also said he read police reports stating that Volberding called his neighbor on Friday afternoon and said he had shot his wife. The neighbor called police and when they arrived Zalud said Volberding in “a clear and coherent manner” is heard and seen on police body cameras saying “I shot my wife … give me a few minutes and I’ll tell you everything that happened.”

Police found Elizabeth Volberding lying on dead on her kitchen floor with a gun nearby. It was her 68th birthday.

Zalud also told the judge about an incident in January of 2015 when authorities said he had barricaded himself and his wife inside their home and threatened to kill her.
Volberding’s firearm owner’s identification card was revoked after this incident but he was not charged.

Spring Grove Police said at the time Elizabeth Volberding, who also was known as Betty, reported that her husband was diagnosed with dementia.

In arguing against the increase, Assistant Public Defender Angelo Mourelatos noted Volberding’s current condition making it difficult to “ascertain his assets now.”

In court Volberding appears somewhat weak, incoherent and disheveled.

“Based on his age and (having) no real criminal background I think the $1 million is fair,” Mourelaots said.

Earlier this week, Volberding walked before the judge with the assistance of a sheriff’s deputy. He was visibly trembling and disoriented. Prather ordered that Volberding undergo a physical and mental health evaluation.

Elizabeth Volberding’s son was in court Thursday but left without comment.

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Man sentenced to prison after violating probation for delivering heroin that ended his young girlfriend’s life

After violating the “gift” of probation received last year for delivering the heroin that led to his 21-year-old girlfriend’s death, a McHenry County Illinois man was again scolded by the presiding judge then sentenced to three years in prison.

Though with time served and day-for-day credit authorities say Cody Hillier, 25, will likely spend just days in an Illinois Department of Corrections facility.

Hillier admitted to using drugs in October which violated terms of his two year probation he received in July. After his arrest he was remanded back to McHenry County jail to await his sentencing.

“What is it going to take to get you off drugs and turn your life around,” asked Judge Sharon Prather, the same judge who sentenced him to probation in July and told him he must testify against anyone related to his girlfriend’s death.

Last month Hillier, dressed in orange jail issued clothing, testified against James Linder, 36, of Zion. He said on Jan. 30, 2015 he bought 1 1/2 grams of heroin from Linder. He testified that he ingested the heroin throughout the day with his girlfriend who died hours later in the early morning hours of Jan. 31.

When help arrived Hillier lied and said his girlfriend was having an asthma attack delaying the use of naloxone, a substance used to reverse the deadly affects of opioids. By the time he told first responders she had ingested drugs it was too late for the substance to work. Soon after she was pronounced dead at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin.

Linder was found guilty of drug induced homicide and is set to be sentenced Feb. 24.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-drug-induced-homicide-all-white-jury-met-20170113-story.html

Since being back in the county jail where Linder also is being held, Hillier has been in protective custody. During the trial Hillier said he had been threatened by Linder and another man not to testify.

Hillier told Prather at this week’s sentencing hearing he relapsed on drugs at a time when he was under a lot of pressure knowing he was going to testify against Linder.

He said now that the trial is over that pressure has been lifted.

Prather asked what his plans are and he said that he has a union job waiting for him in Wisconsin.

In asking for a prison term of seven years Assistant State’s Attorney Randi Freese said Hillier’s “repeated selfish … criminal behavior” has carried “tragic and fatal consequences.”

In referring to the night of his girlfriend’s fatal overdose she said Hillier lied to those who could have saved her life.

“He knew he had the chance to do the right thing and he didn’t do it,” Freese said.

Then, just roughly three months into his probation, what she referred to as “the gift of a lifetime” Hillier violates his probation.

Freese asked for a sentence that would send a message to the community.

“He watched his girlfriend take her last breath from a drug he gave her,” she said adding that she does not know what else it will take for Hillier to turn his life around.

“(Hillier) is going to wind up dead or in IDOC,” she said.

In asking for probation so he could get the treatment he needs for his drug addiction, assistant public defender Rick Behof said Hillier “has a good heart” but he “made bad choices.”

“He has a substance abuse problem,” Behof said. “No matter what this court does to him he’s gonna have to address that.”

As his late girlfriend’s father silently looked on in the courtroom, as he has done for most court events for Hillier and Linder, Hillier told the judge he is “sorry for what happened.”

Prather, like the first time she sentenced him, gave Hillier a stern warning.

“I don’t think you are a bad person … I think you are a heroin addict. If you don’t get off the drugs you are gonna have a miserable life. Your consequences will get worse and worse. You will be in and out of IDOC or wind up dead.”

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5 Illinois high school students facing criminal charges after “threatening” comments made

Five Illinois high school students are facing criminal charges as a result of comments “threatening in nature” made in the hallways of Huntley High School and on social media websites.

Authorities from the for northwest suburban high school and Huntley Illinois Police Department reported that between Feb. 3 and 5, officials were made aware of a “small number” of comments made that ultimately resulted in an increased absenteeism, especially on Feb. 8.

“The Huntley Police Department and Huntley Community School District 158
take these matters seriously and vigorously investigate the intent and authenticity of such issues,” read a police news release. “The Huntley Police Department, in cooperation with Huntley High School, continuously takes measures to safeguard the student body and facilities to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.”

After police met with McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office five male students, two 17-year-olds, two 16 year-olds and a 15-year-old student were charged with disorderly conduct. One of the boys faces a misdemeanor charge and the remaining four face felony charges, according to police.

All have been petitioned to McHenry County Juvenile Court.

Police and school officials ask that parents remain vigilant of “unsafe or suspicious” issues that raise concern for student safety. They also encourage parents to use these incidents as opportunities for parents to speak to their children about appropriate use of social media and the potential consequence of bullying, harassment or threats.

Dan Armstrong, director of communications for Huntley Consolidated School District 158, said after a thorough investigation it has been determined that the incidents “for the most part … (were considered) ill-advised jokes.”

Though the postings are now deemed to have not “constituted a real threat in anyway to students” they were “taken seriously.”

Armstrong could not say what the messages said, but insisted there never was a concern about keeping school open.

“When we first heard about these messages we (took) them seriously, at first and … working closely and quickly with police we were able to determine that there was no legitimate threat to students’ safety. In that time we were able to make a decision we were able to keep school open as planned.”

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Holiday Hills shooter sentenced to 135 years in prison: Victims and loved ones share their stories

Scott Peters, the Holiday Hills man who shot and wounded two McHenry County deputies as they made a well-being check at his home last October, was sentenced today to 135 years in prison.

During today’s sentencing the eight-year-old son of Deputy Khalia Satkiewicz, one of the wounded officers, described his thoughts at first seeing his mother in the hospital and wanting to give her a hug.

“When I saw her in the bed I felt very sad … I felt mad at the man who shot my mommy,” said Nicholas Satkiewicz as his tears filled the courtroom.

Peters, 52, who was found guilty in April of 15 counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer, sat stoic as his sentence was read.

Just after 1 a.m. Oct 16, Peters fired shots from an assault rifle at Satkiewicz and Deputy Dwight Maness thorough a closed front door.

He then opened the door and chased them, still shooting, as they ran for cover in the darkness. He struck and seriously wounded the deputies. He also fired shots at a third deputy, Eric Luna, who was not injured. Peters then led authorities on a 16-hour manhunt before being arrested.

Satkiewicz’s 13-year-old daughter Sierra said seeing her mom wounded and crying for the first time in the hospital was “heartbreaking.”

“My mother didn’t deserve any of this,” she said.

As the children read their statements Peters sat without emotion, however, his wife Lisa, quietly wiped away tears.

Robert Satkiewicz, an Illinois State Police Master Sergeant, described what Peters did that night — hiding behind a door and shooting at officers who went to his home to help his own wife and daughter– as “hurtful, destructive and cowardice.”

“You are lucky I wasn’t there, you wouldn’t be here today,” he told Peters. “You are a domestic terrorist and should be treated as such. … “I pray you never see the light of day outside prison walls again.”

Deputy Khalia Satkiewicz said “Nightmare cannot begin to describe the terror I felt that night.”

“The night turned into an ambush that was meant to kill us … His agenda was clear, he was hellbent on killing us,” she said adding that she saw her children’s faces before her as she ran for cover.

“We should be dead … God was with us that night. “Evil showed itself on Oct. 16 in the form of Scott Peters,” she said. “The physical wounds will heal but the mental and emotional scars will be with me my entire lifetime.”

Maness’ colleague McHenry County Police Sergeant Travis McDonald, read a statement written by Maness who could not attend the sentencing. He suffered new injuries this week to his right leg following a procedure to help repair his left leg and was in the hospital. He has so far undergone 15 surgeries.

Maness wrote that for his whole life, including serving 20 years in the military and as a police officer the last seven, he has been a “warrior” and has “(stood) up for people who cannot stand up for themselves.”

Calling Peters a “coward” and a “sociopath” Maness wrote that Peters “has no honor” and “does not know what it is like to sacrifice.

“It is all about him,” Maness wrote. He added that the injuries sustained in the ambush have caused him to lose “every ounce of dignity” and he credited his wife Sue with caring for him.

The events of that night have caused him to be “shut out form the outside world” and he has suffered greatly physically, mentally and emotionally.

However, he said, the incident had brought the department closer together and that after that day deputies “held their children a little tighter and told their spouses they loved them a little more.”

Despite his injuries, Maness said “I am a warrior and will continue to walk the warrior’s path.”

His wife, Sue Maness, described getting the phone call at 2 a.m. that her husband had been shot.

“I was paralyzed with fear and sick to my stomach,” she said.

“My husband is the epitome of what a soldier, a police officer and a man should be … (you are) coward hiding behind a door. What kind of a man is that?
Before the hearing got underway, the prosecutor played an audio recording of a phone call Peters made to his wife after being found guilty on April 30. On the recording Peters tells his wife that he was found guilty and asks her to find him a new lawyer. He made claims that his attorneys, jail officers and the jury were all against him and that he was not treated fairly. He also accused police officers of taking the front door off and shooting more bullet holes into it, setting him up.

“The whole thing is rigged,” he repeatedly told his wife.

Often referring to one another as “baby and “honey” Peters told his wife he was sorry and that she didn’t have to stay with him.

Before sentencing his public defense attorney Angelo Mourelatos said Peters may suffer some mental health issues including depression, delusions and post traumatic stress disorder. He also said a long prison term could be a hardship on his wife and 13-year-old daughter.

Peters apologized to all the families who were hurt by what he did. He said he has “been stick to my stomach ever since” that night.

“In the end there were families on each side of the door at my house that night,” Peters said. “I pray everyone will recover from it.”

Before handing down, what is essentially a life sentence, Prather told Peters that he had never taken responsibility nor shown any remorse for what he did. She also called his accusations in the phone call to his wife in which he said the officers staged the crime scene by shooting bullets into his front door as “ludicrous.”

Prather said the responsibility of what happened “lays right at your feet.”

“There was no nonsense in this case, no lies, the only lies I heard in this case came from you,” Prather said.

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High school teacher found not-guilty of taking lewd photos of student

A 44-year old former McHenry East High School teacher was acquitted on charges today of taking a photo up a female student’s skirt in May.

Thomas Eggert, of McHenry, said “Thank you, you’re honor” then turned to hug his wife after the judge said he was not guilty of using an iPhone to take lewd photos of the 16-year-old girl.

During an assembly held in the school’s auditorium on May 6, when Eggert was to be taking photos of exhibits in the World’s Fair assembly, two female students reported they saw Eggert use his iPhone to take the photos.   The alleged victim was sitting in a display, described in court as a pool, just feet away from him, the girls said.

When an associate principal asked Eggert for his phone he lied and said he did not have it on him. Surveillance cameras inside the school captured him going into his classroom and after 90 seconds reemerging with his cell phone. He then handed it over, prosecutors said.

Assistant State’s Atty Robert Ladd said that all the photos of the day were deleted. Those deleted photos were never recovered.

After the state rested Friday morning, the second day of the two-day bench trial, Eggert’s defense attorney Dan Hoffman said his client did not wish to testify. Hoffman, who cross examined the state’s witnesses on Thursday, did not present a defense.

In closing arguments, Ladd said the two witnesses said they saw Eggert standing about two feet away from the alleged victim and that he zoomed in under the girls skirt focused in on her underwear. One witness said she saw him using two thumbs to work his phone’s photo application to take the  “under skirt” photo then swipe it to the bottom of the frame of the phone. The girl said she saw the picture of the student’s underwear on Eggert’s phone.

Ladd said the witnesses had no bias against Eggert to make these accusations. The alleged victim said for the last three years in high school Eggert was always friendly with her. But the day after the alleged incident he grew cold toward her.   “He iced her out,” Ladd said adding he treated her this way because Eggert felt shame over what he had done.   “He violated the innocence and trust of a 16-year-old girl,” Ladd said.

But Hoffman countered that Eggert was standing about five feet away from the girl and was holding his phone elbows high while taking photos, not an angle where an “up skirt” photo could be taken. He also said the alleged victim was not sitting in a way that such a photo of her underwear could be captured.   He also said the two witnesses were inconsistent and could not remember details and one in particular seemed overly “dramatic.”

Eggert admitted on May 9 to deleting photos and other data from his phone on that day before handing it over. But, Hoffman said, that it is Eggert’s right to maintain his privacy and what had been deleted was not related to the accusations against him.   “(He) had a legitimate interest in not turning over his phone,” Hoffman said.  “There were other things on the phone  he didn’t want exposed. He told (authorities) he deleted other things from his phone.”

Judge Robert A. Wilbrandt said though Eggert lied about having his phone on his person when the associate principal asked him for it, then went to his classroom and deleted photos from his phone before turning it over, the witness testimony seemed ambiguous. He also said though Eggert was unprofessional for lying about where his phone was, the state did not prove evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

As the alleged victim and her parents walked out of the courtroom the father threatened Eggert. “I’ll see you around,” the man said pointing at Eggert. A male supporter of Eggerts then lodged into a oral confrontation with the man. The alleged victim and her parents were escorted out by security guards.

As Eggert left the courthouse, he said: “I want it clearly stated: I am innocent of all these charges and that is it.”