Perales Gets November Trial Date

While sitting in jail, Dr. Constantino Perales of Peru is finding it hard to sleep.

During his arraignment Friday morning, Perales’ attorney Clay Campbell said that his client’s segregated cell has a light on 24 hours a day.  Judge Cynthia Raccuglia says it’s the first time she’s heard anything like this in her career as judge.  She asked the state’s attorneys office to look into it.

Raccuglia set a November 18^th trial date for Perales.  He’s charged with two felony drug delivery counts.  Perales wants a jury trial.

Perales is still in the La Salle County Jail on $1 million.  He faces additional federal charges.

California Actor Sentenced After Pot Arrest Near La Salle

An actor with small roles in movies like “Basic Instinct” and “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” has been sentenced for hauling marijuana in La Salle County.

64-year old Michael Halton was given 6 years in prison by Judge Cynthia Raccuglia after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.  That’s the minimum sentence for the Class X felony that Halton pled guilty to.

State Police pulled over the California man in April of 2011 on Interstate 80 near La Salle.  Officers say they found over 20 pounds of marijuana in Halton’s car.

Halton was wearing a sling in court yesterday morning after being involved in a rollover crash since his arrest and being released on bond.

Peru Man Headed To Prison For Dealing Ecstasy

A Peru man is headed to prison for dealing ecstasy.

Adam Schaub was given six years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to a Class 1 Felony of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.  Schaub admitted to selling 10 ecstasy pills to an undercover drug agent with Tri-dent back in January in Utica.

After getting out of prison, Schaub will be on a form of supervised release or probation for two years.  He did get a separate drug charge and misdemeanor traffic charges dropped as part of his plea deal.

Schaub will also get time-served credit towards his sentence after being in the La Salle County Jail for 254 days.

Free Weger Rally In Ottawa

Do you think Chester Weger was framed in the Starved Rock murders case or is he a cold-hard killer deserving of life in prison?

A group thinking he’s been wronged is holding a rally today at noon in Ottawa’s Washington Square.  “The Committee to Free Chester Weger” will be available to answer questions about Weger and the Starved Rock murders case.

Weger was given life in prison in 1961 after being convicted of killing a woman at St. Louis Canyon in Starved Rock State Park.  Two other women were killed but no one was charged in their deaths.

Weger’s case is currently in front of the parole board.  He’s unsuccessfully tried for parole 17 times.

West Nile Virus Claims First Illinois Life In 2013

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – State public health officials say an elderly central Illinois man is the first person in Illinois to die of West Nile virus this season.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says the Logan County man was in his 80s and died in mid-August.

So far this season West Nile virus has been reported in 57 Illinois counties including Bureau, La Salle and Putnam counties. The first human case was reported August 21st in McHenry County.