An Aurora man has been charged with threatening a Kane County judge and his family, according to court records. James L. Warren, 46, of the 600 block of Saddle Drive, was being held at the county jail on $500,000 bail on one felony count of threatening a public official, according to court records. A warrant […]
Probation terminated after former Aurora priest removed to Colombia
A former Aurora priest who avoided a jury trial on child sex abuse charges through a misdemeanor plea deal is back in Colombia, and his probation in Kane County has been terminated. Alfredo Pedraza Arias, 51, lost his temporary religious worker visa after he was charged with sexually abusing two girls at Sacred Heart Church […]
Former Aurora priest remains in ICE custody pending removal to Colombia
A former Aurora priest who avoided a jury trial on child sex abuse charges through a misdemeanor plea deal Friday remains in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending removal to his home country of Colombia. As of Monday evening, Alfredo Pedraza Arias was listed in custody at the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility. ADVERTISING Kane […]
Plea deal for former Aurora priest in sexual abuse case
Alfredo Pedraza-Arias, 51, has been released from Kane County jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery. He had been facing charges of sexual abuse. Alfredo Pedraza-Arias, 51, has been released from Kane County jail after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery. He had been facing charges of sexual abuse. Marie Wilson A former Aurora priest pleaded […]
Ex-Aurora priest charged with child abuse, facing deportation won’t have to register as sex offender in plea deal
Ex-Aurora priest charged with child abuse, facing deportation won’t have to register as sex offender in plea deal A former Aurora priest who was charged with sexually abusing two young girls pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor that does not require him to register as a sex offender. Even if it did, he’d still face […]
Kane investigator quit, may have shredded docs, complicating 2 child sex abuse cases
An investigator’s resignation from the Kane County Child Advocacy Center is complicating legal proceedings involving his work, including at least one case scheduled for trial this month. In at least two cases, court filings indicate the investigator may have shredded documents related to his investigation. In one of the cases, involving a former priest from […]
DeKalb woman accused of murdering boyfriend plans to hire psychologist
SYCAMORE – The family of a DeKalb woman accused of strangling her boyfriend in 2016 plans to hire a psychologist whose testimony will show that the woman had suffered trauma from repeated abuse, her lawyer said Wednesday. Kela M. Moss, 27, of 419 S. First St., DeKalb, was charged Nov. 14, 2016, with first-degree murder […]
Defense: Investigator may have destroyed, withheld docs in case of ex-priest accused of sex abuse
A Kane County investigator in a former Aurora priest’s sex abuse case may have destroyed some notes while withholding others, according to the former priest’s lawyer, who is seeking information about the investigator’s recent resignation from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. Alfredo Pedraza Arias, 51, is scheduled for a November trial on felony charges […]
Another Kane first: Latina attorney selected by peers as new judge
Sandra T. Parga took the official oath in early October after her peers selected her as Kane County’s newest associate judge — and first Latina on the bench in the 16th Judicial Circuit’s history — and has been all business managing the caseload at the Aurora Branch Court. Wednesday afternoon was a chance to reflect […]
Geneva man sentenced to 30 days in jail, 2 years probation in arson incidents
ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – A Geneva man, who had been charged with seven felonies related to throwing Molotov cocktails at a house and a truck, was sentenced Oct. 19 to 30 days in jail and two years of probation in a plea agreement. Dominic M. Castelvecchi, 20, of the 600 block of Cheever Avenue, Geneva, pleaded guilty […]
Judge Rejects Latest Bond Move on Former Aurora Priest
The third attempt by Kane County prosecutors to revoke the bond of former Aurora priest Alfredo Pedraza-Arias fell short Thursday. Kane County Judge Linda Abrahamson agreed with Arias’ attorney David Camic’s request to strike the motion by prosecutors which sought to either raise the amount Arias would need to get out of jail or remove […]
Trial date stands for accused Aurora priest facing deportation
A Kane County judge decided not to move up the jury trial of a former Aurora priest facing deportation along with felony charges of child sex abuse. Prosecutors last week filed a motion asking for the trial of Alfredo Pedraza Arias to start sooner. However, Kane County Judge Linda Abrahamson Monday ordered the trial date […]