A man who is out on bond after being charged in connection with a September homicide at Fort Sheridan Beach near Highland Park allegedly violated his bond conditions, prosecutors said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ben Dillon said in court that Jacob Firestone, 18, of Highland Park, recently tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, which is a violation of his bond conditions that prohibit him from consuming drugs.
Attorney Jed Stone said that his client “has a drug problem” and is currently at an inpatient treatment facility.
Dillon said that he and Stone reached a mutual agreement to not increase Firestone’s bond.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak warned Firestone that if he leaves his treatment program or tests positive again for drugs that he would be remanded to the jail.
Firestone and Nicholas M. Caban, 20, of Highland Park, were involved in a “violent confrontation” with Matthew Ascaridis, 45, of Highland Park, on September 17, according to the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.
The incident occurred on Fort Sheridan Beach near Highland Park after Ascaridis confronted Caban and Firestone for being loud on the beach early in the morning.
The physical altercation led to Ascaridis’ death. The coroner said he died from “multiple injuries.”
Caban and Firestone were also injured in the incident and treated at a hospital.
Officers found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun with a defaced serial number inside Caban’s bedroom. He was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, a Class 3 felony.
Firestone was charged with two counts of felony obstructing justice for allegedly removing a bloody wheelbarrow from the beach during the investigation.
Caban was released from the Lake County Jail after posting 10% of a $100,000 bond. Firestone was released from the jail after posting 10% of a $75,000 bond.
After Caban was released from jail, he was arrested again on October 7 after being identified as an arson suspect, Dillon said at a previous court hearing.
The fire department responded around 5:45 p.m. that day to Lou’s Garage, 1260 Skokie Highway in Lake Forest, for a report of a trailer on fire.
Witnesses on the scene told officers that a male subject was seen leaving the trailer and going southbound on the bike path, according to a police incident report.
Officers at the scene obtained a description of the arson suspect and it was broadcasted to area police departments.
A Highland Park police officer located the suspect and identified him as Caban.
Officers noted the smell of alcohol on Caban’s breath and reported that he was demonstrating signs of alcohol impairment, according to the report.
Caban was found in possession of a knife, a half-empty Skol vodka bottle and two cigarette lights.
Officers interviewed Caban about the arson incident but he refused to speak about it.
Caban was initially charged with minor possession of alcohol following the Lake Forest arrest. He was processed and released on a $120 bond.
Authorities later concluded the arson investigation and the state’s attorney’s office approved arson charges.
Caban remains held at the Lake County Jail on a $1.2 million bond following the new arson charges. He would need to post $110,000 cash in order to be released due to him receiving credit for $10,000 already posted previously.
Firestone is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday and Caban is scheduled to appear in court again on February 6.