Casciaro Found Guilty of Murder in Teen's 2002 Disappearance

A McHenry County jury found Mario Casciaro guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder.

A jury found a 29-year-old man guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder in the presumed death of a Johnsburb teen he worked with him at a local supermarket more than 10 years ago, according to the Northwest Herald.  Mario Casciaro could now face a minimum of 20 years in prison for his role in the presumed death of Brian Carrick who went missing in December 2002 and whose body has still not been found, according to the Northwest Herald. Carrick was 17 years old at the time of his presumed murder.  Prosecutors argued in 2002 that a drug debt led to a physical altercation at the grocery store, Val's Foods, in Johnsburg, which was owned by Carrick's family and was also where Casciaro, Carrick and another man, Shane Lamb worked, according to the …

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Area Man With Pet Alligator Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge

Nicholas R. Cosmano was sentenced last month in McHenry County Court.

A 27-year-old Cary man who lost his 5-foot long pet alligator during a drug bust in October 2011 has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, according to the Daily Herald.  Nicholas R. Cosmano was sentenced last month to one year of conditional discharge, $4,400 in fines, 40 hours of community service, to take part in drug treatment and submit to random drug tests, according to online McHenry County court records.  Cosmano lives in the 7200 block of Owl Way and his pet alligator—a female—"was picked up by the McHenry County Animal Control Office and turned over to the Chicago Herpetological Society," according to the Daily Herald. 

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Algonquin Man Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of Young Girl

Mohammad Salem will be sentenced in January.

A jury found a 62-year-old Algonquin man guilty Wednesday of aggravated sexual abuse for fondling a 5-year-old girl on various occasions in 2010, according to the Northwest Herald. The abuse occured at his wife's in-home day care, according to the article. Mohammad Salem will be sentenced on Jan. 3 and faces up to seven years in prison and also is eligible for probation, according to the NW Herald. 

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Former Algonquin Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Sexual Assault

Raymond M. Kasper was sentenced on Thursday, according to the Northwest Herald.

Raymond M. Kasper, 49, formerly of Algonquin was sentenced to 24 years in prison Thursday for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, according to the Northwest Herald. A jury found Kasper guilty of three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and three counts of criminal sexual abuse, according to the NW Herald.  The NW Herald has more on this story.

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Probation Ordered for LITH Man in Infant's Death

Probation Ordered for LITH Man in Infant's Death

McHenry County Court to Use Online Sanctions for Low-Risk Offenders

Research shows brief courses effective in reducing future criminal action.

In an effort to implement meaningful sentencing alternatives for alcohol related offenses and low-degree criminal offenders, the 22nd Judicial Circuit of McHenry County, in conjunction with the McHenry County Department of Probation and Court Services, has implemented the use of the 3rd Millennium Online Classrooms. During the last decade, courts have been diverting underage drinking, petty theft, marijuana possession, and other misdemeanor cases to diversion programs, thus allowing the court to deal with more serious offenses. For many first offenders, this is a “teachable moment.” The 22nd Judicial Circuits wants streamlined, effective intervention solutions for low-risk criminal offenders. Evidenced-based research shows that the …

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LITH Man Sentenced for Assault of Pregnant Girlfriend

Victor A. Bratz will spend 180 day in jail, according to the Northwest Herald.

A Lake in the Hills man accused of threatening his pregnant girlfriend with a knife and punching her in the stomach will spend 180 days in jail, according to the Northwest Herald.  The Northwest Herald reports Victor A. Bratz, 40, pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated DUI and was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation, which will include random urine samplings and drug and alcohol treatment.  Police were called to the 2300 block of Wexford Lane on May 15 for the battery report. Bratz, who was intoxicated at the time, fled the home before eventually returning and being taken into custody by Lake in the Hills police, authorities told Patch.

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LITH Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing 7-Year-Old

A jury found Luis Madrid guilty Thursday on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to the Northwest Herald.

A jury found a 34-year-old Lake in the Hills man guilty Thursday of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl, according to a Northwest Herald article.  Luis Madrid could spend between three and seven years in prison on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to the Northwest Herald. Madrid is convicted of sexually abusing his then-girlfriend's 7-year-old daughter, according to the article.  A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 3 in McHenry County Court. For more on this article, visit the Northwest Herald.  

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Illinois Couples Can Now Get Civil Union Licenses

The civil union license give couples many of the same legal rights as married couples.

Illinois couples are now able to obtain licenses to form a civil union.  Starting today, same-sex and heterosexual couples will be able to register for a civil union license at courthouses throughout the state. The couples will have to wait until the next day to have a civil union ceremony performed, according to the McHenry County Court website. According to the Associated Press, the civil union, "a rough equivalent to marriage" will allow couples to "decide medical treatment for an ailing partner and the right to inherit a partner's property." For more information on civil union licenses in McHenry County, visit the McHenry County Court's website.

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Court Date Postponed in Prostitution Case

Trial expected to be set on March 1.

A trial date for Antwanette Atkins and Kari Knox, both accused of luring a 14-year-old girl into prostitution, was postponed Tuesday. The two were expected to appear in McHenry County Court before judge Joseph Condon Tuesday morning to set a trial date -- an appearance that is now slated for March 1. The two are being held on a $200,000 bond. Both are charged with seven counts of child pornography, one count of involuntary servitude and one count of juvenile pimping. In December of 2009, Atkins and Knox were living with Donald R. Jones, 53, of Lake in the Hills, when Jones met a 14-year-old Kansas girl on the internet, drove to pick her up and brought the girl back to his home. Jones took pictures of the girl which he posted on line as an …

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