Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Darin Evans faces 47 years in prison, his actions called "despicable" by State's Attorney.
Bond has been set at $300,000 for Darin Evans, 41, former associate pastor at West Suburban Community Church in Elmhurst. Evans appeared before Judge Elizabeth Sexton in DuPage Bond Court Tuesday, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. From 2004 to 2011, Evans allegedly sexually assaulted his victim on multiple occasions at multiple locations, including his vehicle, public places and on a church-sponsored youth retreat, according the State's Attorney's Office. ABC News is reporting those locations included cemeteries and restrooms. Related: "The allegations against Mr. Evans are just despicable,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a prepared statement. “As the youth minister at his victim’s church, he …
Friday, February 1, 2013
Because of the young victim's courage, Parikh Priyang will "spend the next six years of his life behind bars," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Friday, February 1
A Virginia man convicted of attempting to sexually assault a then 7-year-old girl at an Elmhurst banquet hall in 2010, was sentenced Friday to six years in prison, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. Priyang Parikh, 31, of Alexandria, Va., was convicted on Oct. 18 of one count of attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (a Class 1 Felony) and one count of sexual exploitation of a child (a Class 4 Felony). The jury deliberated about three hours. Friday's sentencing stems from allegations that Parikh left his home in Virginia to attend the Sept. 5 wedding reception, despite not knowing the bride or groom, or anyone else in attendance. Testimony during his trial indicated he was so involved in the reception…
Friday, December 7, 2012
Here's a look at some major DuPage County court cases, including a former Wheaton man charged with hiring a fellow inmate to kill two public officials and two others, and a Naperville man's sexual exploitation trial.
Wheaton: A judge ruled that DuPage prosecutors used an improper tactic to bring a murder-for-hire suspect in for questioning. However, Judge George Bakalis decided the information obtained in the interview, and ultimately the charges filed against Gordon Vanderark, would have been no different if the tactic had not been used, records show. Vanderark is charged with trying to hire a fellow prison inmate to kill a DuPage County Judge and assistant state's attorney tied to a previous felony conviction that landed Vanderark in prison. Prosecutors used a confidential source to learn about Vanderark's plan and set up a "ruse" hearing on an unrelated issue to have Vanderark brought back from the Centralia Correctional Center. Once in DuPage, …
Monday, March 19, 2012
Here are a few of the cases we're keeping our eye on in DuPage courts.
Elmhurst—An April 27 hearing has been set in the case of a man accused of exposing himself to a young girl in 2010. At that hearing, Priyang Parikh will ask a judge to suppress evidence prosecutors have related to the incident at an Elmhurst banquet hall during a wedding. Parikh is charged with attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and sexual exploitation of a child. Prosecutors tried to have Parikh's suppression motion thrown out with a hearing, but a judge recently denied that move. Naperville—School records of two female students at Naperville North High School have no information relevant to the sex abuse case of a former school counselor, a judge recently ruled. John Carbonaro is charged with two counts of aggravated …
Monday, December 19, 2011
Zale Hoddenbach sought a five-hour visit with his five children
A Cook County Circuit Court judge Monday denied the request of an Elmhurst man accused of the sexual assault of a minor to visit his children on Christmas day. Defense attorneys asked Judge Nicholas Ford to allow Zale Hoddenbach to see his five children for a “chaperoned” visit from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 25, but the judge appeared unconvinced at the proposed arrangement involving Hoddenbach's brother and sister-in-law. “I’m not going to allow it,” Ford said, suggesting the supervision would not be adequate." Hoddenbach, 42, is free on $1 million bail while he awaits trial for sexual assault of a teenage girl. The conditions of his bond prohibit him from having any contact with minors, including his own children. Prosecutors allege that …
Monday, December 5, 2011
Zale Hoddenbach is not allowed to have contact with any minors, including his own children. “The allegation is too onerous,” Judge Nicholas Ford said.
A Cook County Circuit Court judge set bond at $1 million Monday morning for an Elmhurst man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Prosecutors wanted Zale Hoddenbach to remain in the Cook County Jail, where he has been held for nearly a month after a judge revoked his bond for allegedly violating the conditions upon which he was released after posting $150,000 bail. Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Muldoon said Hoddenbach, 42, had responded to an email sent to him by a female minor, in violation of a court order prohibiting from having any contact with minors while he awaits trial. “The order … was extraordinarily clear,” she told Judge Nicholas Ford. “No contact meant no contact whatsoever.” Hoddenbach’s attorney, Bill Murphy, …
Friday, December 2, 2011
Zale Hoddenbach allegedly contacted a minor in violation of his bond restrictions.
Zale Hoddenbach, a former Chicago gang member who received national media attention for his efforts to stop inner-city violence, is being held without bail in the Cook County Jail pending arraignment on a charge of violating the conditions of his bond while awaiting trial for sexual assault. According to Cook County State’s Attorney Spokesperson Andy Conklin, the 42-year-old Hoddenbach had his bond revoked on Nov. 7 for contacting a minor via email. Conklin noted that the minor was not the victim of the sexual assault allegedly committed by Hoddenbach. Hoddenbach, who has homes in Chicago and Elmhurst, was arrested in October for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Cook County prosecutors told Judge Israel Desierto that the teenager …
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Penn State scandal raises awareness of predators who target at-risk and vulnerable children.
Like everyone else, I watched in horror last week as the events unfolded in the child sex abuse scandal at Penn State. For parents of young children, it is unfathomable to contemplate something like this happening to your own child. Unfortunately, it is more common than we’d like to believe. Statistics show that around 15 percent of children are sexually abused before the age of 18. For girls, it’s more like 30 percent. And for developmentally disabled girls? 83 percent. 83 percent? 83 percent. Since this is a Patch opinion article, and not a research white paper, I won’t be footnoting the source for that statistic. But I could. It’s a statistic that I’ve heard thrown around a lot since I became the parent of a developmentally disabled …
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A roundup of the region's news for Feb. 10.
Here are the top stories from Patch sites in your area: — Glenbard West Student Charged With Sexual Assault of 15-Year-Old — STC Parents Raise Concerns Over School District's Plans — Elmhurst District 205 Targets $3 million in Budget Cuts — District 200 To Vote on Hubble Sale — Hall of Famer Bobby Hull Visits McNally's in St. Charles
Ercie Berwick
2:58 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
I don't much care what you think, Cronan. You are unable to analyze, and therein lies your problem. Try to work on it, okay? more ›