Lake County State's Attorney
Recent News About Lake County State's Attorney
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Repeat weapon offender faces decades behind bars after second conviction
Carnell Wesson, 31, has been convicted by a jury in Lake County of one count of Armed Habitual Criminal and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.
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Lake County attorney honored with award at AAIM annual benefit
On October 20, 2024, the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) awarded John Brown, Chief of the Traffic/Misdemeanor Division at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, with the Outstanding Assistant State’s Attorney Award.
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Judge Potkonjak: 'The people of this county are not safer' under Rinehart
In a video series entitled "A View From the Bench," recently retired Judge Theodore Potkonjak shared his experience with Eric Rinehart (D), the Lake County State's Attorney, and how the office and community have been impacted by his policies, saying 'the people of this county are not safer' than they were when Rinehart took office.
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Lake County State’s Attorney receives award at Unmask the Violence Gala
On October 19, 2024, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart was honored with the 2024 Joyce Fitzgerald Award at the Unmask the Violence Gala organized by A Safe Place.
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Gurnee shooter sentenced to 32 years; self-defense claim rejected
A Lake County judge has sentenced Joey Gonzalez to 32 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Jonathan Denicolas in Gurnee, Illinois, in 2021. Gonzalez, aged 27, was convicted on June 14, 2024, of several charges including second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.
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Authorities arrest man for child pornography; K9 assists in evidence discovery
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has arrested Johnny M. Stewart, 18, for possessing and disseminating child pornography. The arrest followed an investigation by the Cyber Crimes Division and Special Investigations Division of the Lake County State’s Attorney's Office (LCSAO), with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
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Lake County Board candidate Grum: ‘There is absolutely no evidence that the Safe-T Act has made anyone in Lake County safer’
As he campaigns for a seat on the Lake County Board, Lake Forest Police Commander Ben Grum is making headlines with his vocal opposition to the Illinois Safe-T Act, arguing that the legislation has not improved safety in the region.
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Lake County GVPI director graduates from University of Chicago Crime Lab's leadership academy
Last week, Tierra Lemon, Director of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI), along with 30 other Community Violence Intervention (CVI) leaders from 20 cities across America, graduated from the University of Chicago Crime Lab's Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA). The graduation ceremony took place in Los Angeles, California.
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Lake County partners with university on new children's advocacy center
Last week, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC) announced the receipt of $1 million in state funding facilitated by State Senator Julie Morrison. The funding will support the implementation and integration of a medical forensic clinic in partnership with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS).
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Man sentenced for fatal shooting of Fox Lake resident
Today, a Lake County Judge sentenced Azmi Ibrahim to 50 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the 2022 fatal shooting of a Fox Lake man.
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Man sentenced for aggravated DUI resulting in two fatalities
Today, a Lake County Judge sentenced Jose S. Aguirre to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for a fatal DUI rollover crash that occurred in 2020.
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Governor Pritzker signs bill establishing Crime Data Task Force
Last week, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill creating a Crime Data Task Force, sponsored by Lake County legislators Mary Edly-Allen and Daniel Didech, in collaboration with Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart.
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Lake County judge detains defendant in child pornography case
A Lake County judge has granted the State’s petition to detain Jose Real, 52, who faces three counts of child pornography, a class 2 felony. Real was arrested on July 31 following an investigation by Lake County Sheriff’s detectives, which revealed he had been downloading and possessing child pornography.
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Lake County State's Attorney reports on crime reduction efforts under SAFE-T Act
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart presented his annual report to the Law & Judicial Committee of the Lake County Board July 30. Since 2020, Rinehart has provided crime statistics to the Committee while detailing new programs and budgetary needs. This year, he also discussed how the SAFE-T Act permits prosecutors to hold dangerous offenders prior to trial.
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Man accused of child abuse detained under new SAFE-T Act provisions
Andrew Szech, 43, has agreed to the State’s Petition To Detain while his case is pending in the Circuit Court of Lake County. Szech faces multiple charges, including three counts of criminal sexual abuse (class 1 felonies), unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver (class 1 felony), and various other drug and firearm-related offenses.
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State’s Attorney Rinehart calls for action on second anniversary of Highland Park shooting
On Independence Day, we celebrate this country’s ideals: liberty, democracy, and service to others. On July 4, 2022, first responders in Highland Park and throughout Lake County rushed to serve others even in the face of gunfire.
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Gun Violence Awareness Month Community Carnival scheduled Saturday in Waukegan
A Lake County Gun Violence Awareness Month Community Carnival will be held Saturday, June 29, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Cristo Rey parking lot. The Antmound Foundation and the Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative are hosting the fair.
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Lake County launches new program targeting domestic violence fatalities
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office announced today that it has been selected by a statewide committee to pilot a regional “Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR) Team.” The team will work to prevent future domestic-violence-related fatalities and reduce the severity and frequency of domestic violence. Five regions throughout Illinois will each have one team as part of this pilot program.
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Jury finds Joey Gonzalez guilty for fatal Gurnee Mills parking lot shooting
On Friday, June 14, 2024, a jury trial concluded in the Lake County Courthouse with guilty verdicts on all counts related to a 2021 fatal shooting in the Gurnee Mills parking lot. Joey Gonzalez, 27, was convicted of Second-Degree Murder, a class 1 felony; two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, a class X felony; three counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a class 1 felony; and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a felon, a class 2 felony.
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Lake County State’s Attorney candidate prioritizes public safety, victim rights
In the race for Lake County State’s Attorney, candidate Mary Cole is making waves with her commitment to prioritizing public safety and victim rights.