A suspect arrested for fighting with an athletic trainer while trying to steal a backpack at the College of Lake County was released from custody on pretrial conditions following a Lake County Court appearance.
Bowa Banda, 41, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of burglary and a Class 4 felony count of possession of burglary tools following the incident at the CLC athletic training center on October 19.
If found guilty of the most serious charge at trial, Banda could be sentenced to 4 to 7 years in prison. The charge is also probationable.
Prosecutors from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said during a detention hearing on Oct. 20 that an athletic trainer spotted Banda trying to walk out of the athletic training facility with two backpacks at 2:05 p.m. on Oct. 19.
The athletic trainer, who identified one of the backpacks as his, confronted Banda telling him only students, staff, and gym members have access to the locker rooms and training facilities at CLC.
Banda told the trainer he was homeless and was looking to take a shower, but the trainer tried to detain Banda and used a telephone to call 9-1-1.
A fight ensued when Banda tried to pull the phone out of the trainer’s hand, prosecutors said in court.
The two scuffled and Banda bit the athletic trainer on the left thumb hard enough to break the skin and cause the thumb to bleed.
Police arrived on the scene and detained Banda, stopping the fight.
Prosecutors said a search of the backpacks revealed Banda’s wallet, cell phone, a screwdriver, a knife, and two pry bars.
At the time of the incident, Banda was on pretrial release for a September misdemeanor theft case out of Libertyville. Because of that case, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office tried to detain Banda until trial.
Lake County Judge Mike Nerheim said the current charges did not warrant detention because Banda had a lack of criminal cases against him over the previous decade before the September theft charge.
In addition, Nerheim stated there was no concern Banda was a flight risk and would not return to court.
Nerheim did criticize the fact that a battery charge wasn’t filed against Banda when he bit the thumb of the athletic trainer.
Banda was ordered to return to court on all dates, refrain from any drugs or alcohol, and have no contact with the College of Lake County or the athletic trainer.
Banda is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 26.