Author: Paul Stukel

A 32-year-old Carpentersville man has been charged with multiple felonies after an incident in August that involved the man threatening police officers with a revolver in his home. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Carpentersville Chief of Police Todd Shaver announced today that the subject has been charged with Armed Violence, a Class X felony (4 counts); Possessing a Controlled Substance, a Class 4 felony; Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer, a Class 4 felony (2 counts); Aggravated Assault Using a Firearm Against a Peace Officer, a Class 4 felony (2 counts); and Obstructing a Police Officer. According to prosecutors,…

A 49-year-old Aurora man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his brutal stabbing of a man in 2023. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced Friday that Duka M. Smith has agreed to a sentence of 25 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of Armed Violence, a Class X felony. Judge David Kliment accepted the plea. According to prosecutors, on November 12, 2023, Smith and the victim were at an apartment when they had a disagreement which turned physical, and Smith began stabbing the…

In May, a North Aurora police officer and a police intern pulled over 49-year-old Jorge Valerio Martinez for a routine license plate violation, which led to Martinez being detained on suspected DUI. Martinez died in custody a few hours later due to heart-related problems. After concluding an investigation of the incident, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that her office will not pursue charges against the officers, stating that “the officers acted lawfully and appropriately under Illinois law and North Aurora Police Department official policy.” On May 2, 2025, a North Aurora officer and a police intern pulled…

Oktoberfest is coming to North Aurora! The Village of North Aurora’s first Oktoberfest will take place on Saturday, October 4, at North Aurora Riverfront Park, from 12pm until 10pm. All ages are welcome and the event is free and open to the public. There will be a large covered beer tent with seating (all ages), along with a smaller outdoor beer garden for 21+! This exciting event will feature German-style beers, food, Oktoberfest and fall activities and contests, live music and more. Check out the delicious food vendor line-up below and come hungry: Sausage Fest Savor the flavor at Sausage Fest! High-quality sausages…

A 23-year-old Montgomery man has agreed to a sentence of 16 years of in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, a Class X felony. Judge Julia Yetter accepted the plea. Prosecutors said that on September 1, 2024, the victim was driving through the drive-thru lane of a Dunkin’ located on the 2900 block of Kirk Road in Aurora when Martinez approached her car, holding an object that appeared to be a firearm. Martinez pointed the object at the victim and ordered her to get out of the vehicle, a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.…

A Joliet man has pled guilty to participating in the drive-by shooting that killed two Boulder Hill women on Veteran’s Day, 2020. Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis announced that Jaquarance Handley of Joliet was sentenced to 35 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections earlier this month on the charge of First-Degree Murder. Handley entered his plea to First-Degree Murder and agreed to the 35-year prison sentence. The case was set for trial this month. Handley’s accomplice, James Brown Jr, had been sentenced to life in prison earlier this year after a jury convicted him of personally discharging an…

Two documented gang members are in custody after separate traffic stops allegedly revealed illegal firearms in their vehicles. In two separate incidents late last week, Aurora officers recovered handguns —one involving an impaired driver with a defaced handgun, and another near a school in which a juvenile fled from a vehicle before being safely taken into custody. Prosecutors have approved multiple felony charges in both cases. On Thursday, officers stopped a Nissan Rogue after observing stop-sign violations near North Avenue and Jackson Street in Aurora. Officers noted indicators of impairment and asked the driver to exit. As officers moved the…

(Photo credit: NCTV) The vehicle found submerged in a Naperville lake Thursday contains human remains that are suspected to be linked to a missing Berwyn man reported missing in 2023. On Thursday just before 11am, divers from the Naperville Fire Department were conducting training exercises in Lake Osborne, located just south of the Naperville Public Safety Campus on Aurora Avenue, when they discovered a submerged vehicle in the southwest portion of the lake. Naperville Police officers, detectives, and crime scene technicians were called to the scene to assist with the recovery of the vehicle and initiate an investigation. At approximately…

Two Aurora men, one a documented gang member, are in custody following months-long narcotics investigations by the Aurora Police Special Operations Group (SOG) investigators and other specialized units. Earlier this month, police executed two search warrants that resulted in multiple arrests and the recovery of firearms, narcotics, and cash. On September 17 at approximately 6:15pm, investigators served a search warrant at a residence in the 600 block of West Galena Boulevard. Inside, officers located 3.4 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, drug packaging, a Springfield Armory 9mm handgun, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, an extended magazine, and numerous…

A 33-year-old Elgin man has been charged with attempted murder and other felonies following an incident Tuesday in the 300 block of McLean Boulevard in Elgin. According to police, at 9:25am Tuesday morning, officers responded to the 300 block of South McLean Boulevard for a reported aggravated battery. The individuals involved had a brief interaction prior to the battery incident and all individuals were identified. One of the participants was transported to an area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, while the other, the accused, was detained pending further investigation by detectives. Following the investigation, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office…