A restaurant owner, who is a convicted felon, was found with two guns after the sheriff said he punched and strangled a woman until she lost consciousness in a high-end neighborhood near Mundelein.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 8:20 p.m. Saturday to the 21800 block of West Vernon Ridge Drive in unincorporated Mundelein.
A 911 caller reported that a woman was found in the roadway battered and injured, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics arrived in the Ivanhoe subdivision and found the victim bruised and battered.
Covelli said a further investigation revealed she was punched and strangled by Lenny W. Weston, 50, who lives in the same subdivision.
Prosecutors said Weston punched the woman in the face multiple times, strangled her, slammed her head and threatened to kill her.
The victim lost consciousness and when she regained consciousness, she exited the home where she was found by a good Samaritan who called 911, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s deputies searched for Weston but they were unable to locate him in the area.
A sheriff’s deputy located Weston driving in the area of Route 60 and Saunders Road in Lake Forest around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Covelli said the deputy conducted a traffic stop and took Weston into custody for the attack on the victim.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of aggravated domestic battery and two counts of domestic battery.
Sheriff’s deputies learned there were firearms in Weston’s home that he was possessing, Covelli said. He is a convicted felon.
A firearm restraining order and a search warrant to seize any firearms were sought and granted by a judge.
The search warrant was conducted on Tuesday and deputies recovered two firearms with extended magazines.
They also seized approximately 230 grams of cannabis that were near the guns.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved additional charges of two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon and unlawful possession of cannabis.
Prosecutors filed petitions to detain Weston while he awaits trial and the requests were granted by Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim, who said there were no conditions of release to ensure the victim’s or community’s safety.
Weston is the owner of The Licking Chicago restaurant at 5045 West Madison Street in Chicago and the founder of West Construction.
The Licking is a restaurant chain that began in Miami. Hip-hop artist DJ Khaled is reportedly a co-owner and ambassador of the brand.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Shanley-Roberts said the victim is “terrified” of Weston, who has allegedly threatened her and her family multiple times.
The victim works for Weston at his restaurant. Shanley-Roberts said Weston took the woman’s personal documents and refuses to give them back.
“He also said to her that he knew people and has money and that someone like her could never get him into trouble,” Shanley-Roberts said.
An attorney representing Weston said the victim and Weston were driving back from a function in Chicago to his home in Lake County when the victim attacked him in the car as he was driving.
Weston remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 31 for a status hearing.