A judge refused to release a Libertyville man facing hate crime charges, saying he “terrorized” the community by placing various posters throughout Lake County, including ones with targets on them saying “Good Shot ICE.”
Derek Webb, 38, of Libertyville, was charged with one count of a hate crime, a Class 4 felony, and one count of disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that the charges stem from Webb allegedly making direct threats against Latino and immigrant members of the community.
Webb is alleged to have posted a bullseye sign which included handwritten words saying “Good Shot ICE.”
“Clear threats of physical violence that are motivated by hatred, bias, or racism must be strongly condemned in the community and responded to by the legal system. True threats are not protected by free speech, and they are particularly dangerous when they are directed towards groups who are historically and wrongfully attacked,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.
The state’s attorney thanked the Waukegan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Gurnee Police Department and Lindenhurst Police Department for their work in identifying Webb as the offender and collecting the evidence across dozens of scenes.
“I also want to thank our federal partners with whom we have been consulting with respect to threat assessment,” Rinehart said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Savannah Halcomb said in court on Wednesday afternoon that Webb was caught on surveillance video posting a sign on a door at Roquette Corporation, 1550 Northwestern Avenue in Gurnee, around 12:45 a.m. on April 6.
The sign contained a shooting range bullseye that said “Good shot, ICE.” A photo of the sign was admitted as evidence during a detention hearing.
The manager of the business reported to officers that there were employees on site at the time and they were alarmed, Halcomb said.
The manager described it as cryptic, threatening and intimidating. The business is primarily staffed by international employees.
U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider said earlier last month that he was “disgusted” by the “vile, hateful” posters being placed in Waukegan, Zion and North Chicago.
He called it a clear attempt to “scare, intimidate, and divide our communities,” especially immigrant neighbors.
Halcomb said signs were also posted in Lake Villa and Lindenhurst, as well as in Wisconsin, by Webb. The signs were posted between April 3 and May 11.
“I join with fellow elected officials in unequivocally condemning these hate-filled posters and the small-minded people distributing them,” Schneider said.
Different posters had been placed on numerous poles across the area over the span of a few weeks. The posters included references to “MAGA” and ICE.
Other posters appeared to show green figures, which appeared to be aliens, with shooting targets placed on them.
Webb is not charged with hate crime for the MAGA signs, prosecutors said, noting that he is specifically charged with the offense for the bullseye signs.
Some of the posters were placed high on the poles, requiring people to stand on vehicles or ladders to remove them.
Residents and community leaders had been taking down the posters as they appeared in the community.
The posters had also appeared in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and faith and community leaders held a press conference earlier last month to address “anti-immigrant hate posters” and to “reaffirm the community’s commitment to inclusion, safety, and respect for all residents.”
Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said the signs appeared on poles across Waukegan and in neighboring cities, some of them promoting violence against immigrants.
“Waukegan is a proudly diverse city, built by generations of hard-working people from various countries, cultures, and backgrounds. I condemn any sign, message, or action that promotes hatred, intimidation, discrimination, or political violence towards the immigrant community or towards anyone in the strongest possible terms,” Cunningham said.
Rinehart said he expresses his gratitude to the “brave members of the community” who came forward to stand against the hate.
“Like all of us, these members of the community hope for a brighter future in which hate is forever extinguished from our community. Hate must have no home in Lake County,” the state’s attorney said.
Webb was arrested and appeared in First Appearance Court on Tuesday afternoon.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him pending trial due to the “seriousness of these charges.”
A detention hearing was held on Wednesday afternoon and Lake County Judge James Newman granted the petition to detain, remanding Webb to the Lake County Jail.
Webb interrupted a prosecutor who was speaking during the hearing and questioned the phrase “cryptic” when she mentioned the bullseye poster that was placed at the business in Gurnee.
The judge interjected and told Webb not to speak. Halcomb also said during the hearing that the posters had been placed at apartments, businesses and churches.
In one instance, a sign was posted at a church in Waukegan and was placed directly over a Spanish translation of the church’s weekly schedule.
Halcomb said Webb was informed by police that his actions were disturbing people and he later continued with his actions despite being informed by police that he was under investigation.
Lily Gaytan, who lives in a neighborhood that was affected, said the signs were a “direct threat to our community.”
“Now is the time for us to unite and put a stop to this hate,” Gaytan said.
Pastor Julie Contreras of United Giving Hope said families living in the affected areas expressed concern about the impact the displays may have on children and immigrant residents.
Halcomb said Webb has a history of offenses for battery, vandalism and disorderly conduct. He reportedly refused to cooperate during his booking process following his arrest.
Newman said that he was “extremely troubled” by what he saw and heard from prosecutors, noting that Webb was committing the offenses throughout the community and it was not isolated.
The judge also said that Webb’s actions were “terrorizing” the community and he poses a threat to others.
As Newman was giving his lengthy ruling during the detention hearing, Webb interrupted the judge again.
Webb is scheduled to appear in court on July 21 for a preliminary hearing.