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Witnesses testify during day 4 of neglect trial that AJ Freund would have been alive if 2 DCFS workers took further action

A doctor and an attorney testified Thursday they believe AJ Freund would be alive today if the two DCFS workers accused of mishandling his abuse investigations took protective custody of him. Carlos J. Acosta, 57, of Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, 51, of Island Lake, were both charged in September 2020 with two counts of […]

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Defense attorneys argue 2 DCFS workers were overworked, question expert witness during day 3 of AJ Freund neglect trial

Defense attorneys intensively questioned an expert witness and argued the two DCFS workers accused of mishandling the AJ Freund investigations were overworked as the trial entered its third day. Carlos J. Acosta, 57, of Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, 51, of Island Lake, were both charged in September 2020 with two counts of endangering the […]

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Retired DCFS administrator testifies on second day of trial for 2 former DCFS workers involved with AJ Freund

A retired DCFS administrator testified the entire second day of the trial of two DCFS workers accused of mishandling the AJ Freund investigations and said that the former workers failed to do their jobs. Carlos J. Acosta, 57, of Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, 51, of Island Lake, were both charged in September 2020 with […]

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Prosecutor in AJ Freund investigation misconduct trial say 2 DCFS workers were ‘heartless,’ lazy at their jobs

Opening statements were given and witnesses testified Monday during the first day of a trial for two former DCFS workers accused of mishandling the AJ Freund investigations before the boy’s death. Carlos J. Acosta, 57, of Woodstock, and Andrew R. Polovin, 51, of Island Lake, were both charged in September 2020 with two counts of […]

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Man faces up to life in prison after jury convicts him of shooting 2 men, killing one, at Poppy’s restaurant in Waukegan

A man faces up to life in prison after a jury on Thursday convicted him of shooting two men in the head, killing one, at Poppy’s restaurant in Waukegan last year. Jorge Medina, 18, of Waukegan, was charged in June 2022 with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. A second […]

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Former Richmond High School teacher found not guilty in 1 of 2 cases for alleged inappropriate touching of students

A former Richmond-Burton High School teacher accused of inappropriately touching two female students on separate occasions has been found not guilty in one of the two incidents. Ryan C. Carlson, 47, of Hebron, was charged in October with battery, a Class A misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor. A criminal complaint filed in […]

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8 years in prison for ‘con artist’ from Lake Forest who prosecutors say stole over $500K from victims in Lake County

A judge has sentenced a Lake Forest man to eight years in prison after prosecutors called him a “con artist” who defrauded multiple victims out of more than $500,000. Ricky A. Dugo, 55, of Lake Forest, was charged in March 2021 with four counts of felony theft and two counts of felony conspiracy to commit […]