Woman Pleads Guilty to Fatal DUI Crash on Route 47

The investigation reveals that Linda Knotts had cocaine in her blood at the time of the crash. Here are more details.

An Aurora woman will serve a prison sentence for a 2009 fatal DUI crash on Route 47 north of Sugar Grove. Linda L. Knotts, 48 (d.o.b. 7-17-1964), of the 200 block of East Galena Boulevard, Aurora, agreed this week to a sentence of seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to one count of aggravated DUI, a Class 2 felony. Circuit Judge James C. Hallock accepted the plea. At about 5:30 p.m. March 20, 2009, Knotts was driving her yellow 2007 Chevrolet S-10 pick-up south in the northbound lane on Route 47 near Merrill Road when she struck head-on a vehicle driven by 54-year-old William McKenzie of Marengo. McKenzie was pronounced dead a short time later at a nearby hospital. Preceding the crash, …

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beckysensei

8:37 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013

Sorry...my only excuse is I have a 3 year old. All time is mushed together anymore.   more ›

St. Charles Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault of Woman With Developmental Disabilities

Gary R. Kluber, 67, faces four to 15 years in prison.

A St. Charles man faces between four and 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman with developmental disabilities last year. Gary R. Kluber, 67 (d.o.b. 9-21-1945), of the 100 block of South 10th Avenue, St. Charles, on Friday pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony. Circuit Judge John A. Barsanti accepted the plea and set Kluber’s next court appearance for 9 a.m. April 3, 2013, for sentencing. Kluber faces a sentence of between four and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. On June 2, 2012, the woman was visiting her boyfriend in his home. Kluber also was present. When the boyfriend went upstairs, Kluber forced sexual contact on the woman despite repeated …

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UPDATE: No Charges in McGroarty's Jan. 9 'Disruption' Over Pledge at Mill Creek Elementary

Kane County State's Attorney's Office conducts full investigation prior to decision. School District 304 adds a statement.

No criminal charges will be filed in a Jan. 9, 2013, incident at Mill Creek Elementary School in Geneva involving parent/volunteer Colin M. McGroarty. According to a press release issued Friday by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, sheriff’s investigators interviewed all known witnesses, as well as school officials who were present in the building but did not witness the incident. The investigators also reviewed "other statements and information that was relevant to the investigation," the press release said. When the investigation was complete, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the facts and findings with sheriff’s investigators and determined that McGroarty's conduct, "although disconcerting, was not criminal." The …

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Foster Parent Pleads Guilty to Sex Assault of Boy in North Aurora Home

This 46-year-old man had sexual contact with a boy while he was a foster parent to him, officials said.

A former North Aurora man has been convicted of sexually preying on a child he knew. Darrell E. Beck, 46, of the 3300 block of Boulder Ridge Drive, Champaign, was convicted Friday by Associate Judge Clint Hull of one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony. Between Oct. 24, 2006, and June 26, 2007, Beck had sexual contact with a young boy he knew. The boy was younger than 13 during the assault. The assault took place at Beck’s North Aurora home when Beck was a foster parent to the victim. Beck since has been living in Champaign. Judge Hull set Beck’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. March 7, for post-trial motions and sentencing. Beck faces a sentence of between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of …

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Police Sting Lands 600 Pounds of Marijuana in Batavia, Elburn and Other Areas

A handful of local residents are charged. Here's how the bust went down.

On Nov. 13, 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DuPage County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the North Central Narcotics Task Force, the Illinois State Police, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and Kane County State's Attorney's Office concluded a three month investigation into cannabis trafficking with the seizure of 598 pounds of cannabis and the arrests of five suspects. During September of 2012, law enforcement personnel received information of a cannabis trafficking organization based out of Kane and McHenry Counties. The organization was allegedly responsible for transporting hundreds of pounds of cannabis from Arizona to Illinois. Agents from the above listed agencies conducted surveillance on the suspects and …

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Kane County Election Complaint Line Open Nov. 6

State’s attorney’s office to field complaints during Election Day at hot line: 1-630-208-5328.

UPDATE: Batavia Woman Faces Charges Related To Stabbing Incident

The 38-year-old received three felony and three misdemeanor charges. Here are the details.

UPDATE: A sister of the woman accused in this story has come forward with an account of what happened during the Nov. 4 disturbance. A 38-year-old Batavia woman was charged Monday in connection to a Sunday disturbance that involved multiple stab wounds. Diane J. Romano, of the first block of North Van Nortwick Avenue, received the following charges: The charges result from what Batavia Police describe as a family disturbance involving two men and Romano. Officers were called to a home on the first block of North Van Nortwick Avenue at 2:34 a.m. Sunday. They found the two men, ages 19 and 34, with non-life threatening stab wounds. If convicted, Romano could receive up to seven years in prison for a class 2 felony, up to five years in prison…

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ANNETTE ROMANO

7:52 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013

FACEBOOK GOT THE PICTURE OF HIS BACK WHO CARE.AND HE DID NOT DIE 3 TIMES THAT HIS STORY.AND THIS IS THE LAST COMMENT IM LEAVING CAUSE I GOT A LIFE UNLIKE YOU MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET BACK TOGETHER AND LEAVE ARE FAMILY ALONE AND GET A LIFE ENOUGH SAID   more ›

St. Charles Ecstacy, Marijuana Dealer Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

Authorities say 26-year-old resident planned to sell drugs, battered a police officer, authorities say.

A St. Charles man has been sent to prison for being in possession with intent to deliver illegal drugs and for battering a police officer after his arrest, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Thursday afternoon. Justin J. Heneghan, 26, of the 100 block of Walnut Drive, St. Charles, was sentenced Thursday by Circuit Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Heneghan pleaded guilty Aug. 27, 2012, to one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class X felony, one count of aggravated battery to a police officer, a Class 2 felony, one count of unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class 3 felony, and one count of attempted escape…

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St. Charles Man Faces Child Porn, Drug Charges

A joint investigation by Naperville and Downers Grove police leads Gary L. Harris of St. Charles, authorities say.

St. Charles police have arrested a 51-year-old St. Charles man after a joint child pornography investigation in Naperville and Downers Grove led authorities here. Gary L. Harris, 51, of the 1800 block of Howard Street, was arrested at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, upon surrendering to St. Charles police, according to a release from the Police Department. He is charged with four counts of aggravated child pornography, a Class 2 felony; one count of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine, a Class X felony; and one count of manufacture/delivery of cannabis, more than 30 grams but less than 500 grams, a Class 3 felony. According to St. Charles police, authorities in Naperville and Downers Grove began investigating the sharing …

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Multiple Charges in Oct. 14 St. Charles Crash

Luis Pina of Aurora was arrested at Delnor Hospital in Geneva on the third day after the Oct. 14 crash on Route 31 that injured four people.

An Aurora man faces multiple drunken driving and related charges as a result of an Oct. 14 accident on Route 31 that left four people injured and shut down the roadway for more than three hours. Luis Avila Pina, 45, of the 400 block of New York Street, Aurora, was arrested at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, where he had been treated for his injuries in the crash. He is charged with aggravated DUI-great bodily harm; aggravated DUI-license revoked or suspended; aggravated DUI-no insurance; speeding, too fast for conditions; driving on a suspended or revoked license; and operating an uninsured vehicle. He is being held in the Kane County Jail pending a court appearance on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. St. Charles police …

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