Ill. Teens Charged With Damaging Police Property
Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon ordered bail Monday ranging from $5,000 to no release for three Arlington Heights teens charged with damaging a police department radar trailer near Heritage Park in Arlington Heights.
Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon ordered bail Monday ranging from $5,000 to no release for three Arlington Heights teens charged with damaging a police department radar trailer near Heritage Park in Arlington Heights.
John J. Cerola, 19, James Hannon, 18, and Nicholas Saegebrecht, 18, were charged with criminal damage to government supported property, a felony punishable by two to five years in prison. Probation is also an option.
The incident occurred about 5:30 a.m. Saturday, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Cotter. The teens caused more than $500 in damage to the device that indicates a motorist’s speed and was clearly labeled as Arlington Heights police property, Cotter said.
Each defendant made a statement admitting his involvement, Cotter said.
Hanlon set bail at $5,000 for Cerola, of the 800 block of North Salem, who said he intends to attend Harper College in the fall. Cerola’s background includes one year of supervision and 10 days in the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program for a 2009 property damage conviction.
Hanlon set bail at $7,000 for Hannon, a college student who lives on the 1000 block of North Kaspar and who prosecutors say has no criminal background.
Hanlon ordered Saegebrecht, of the 1500 block of South Yale, held without bond because he was on probation at the time of his arrest. In March, a judge sentenced Saegebrecht to 24 months’ probation for possession of a controlled substance and robbery. Saegebrecht is to appear in court on Thursday on charges he violated that probation.
Hanlon ordered the defendants placed on an 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. curfew and to submit to drug evaluation. She granted the request of Hannon’s attorney that he be allowed to leave the country on a prepaid trip with his parents.
"In light of the fact that he has absolutely no background, I’ll grant the special conditions," Hanlon said.
She also granted Cerola permission to travel with his family to a wedding out of state.
The defendants next appear in court on July 29.
