According to the report, Kane County’s 11 homicides in 2016 is consistent with recent years. Ten homicides were reported in 2015 and 11 were reported in 2014.

The SAO report is available for public perusal on the State’s Attorney’s Office website.

Serious crime in Kane County was up year over year, the report said. The number of felony filings was up about 7 percent from 2015 and marked the first time in nine years that the number of felony filings increased compared to the previous year.

That said, the number of felony filings was consistent with the 2014 total.

The State’s Attorney’s Office considers the following offenses to be violent crimes: murder, attempted murder, armed violence, voluntary manslaughter, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault, arson, aggravated arson, robbery, armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated battery, aggravated battery of a victim younger than 12, aggravated battery of a victim older than 60, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, and vehicular hijacking.

Misdemeanor crime was down, according to the report and the data available at the time of the report. Kane County’s 5,132 new misdemeanor files is a 7 percent decrease from 2015. Among those misdemeanors were approximately 1,210 new domestic violence cases, which is consistent with the previous three years.

Also notable in the report is the inter-agency collaboration that resulted in multiple arrests and prosecution that addressed gang crime and other serious offenses.

In 2016, the SAO collaborated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI in conjunction with three separate investigations involving firearms sales, possession and distribution, and illegal drugs. As a result, 10 offenders, all convicted felons, were charged for unlawfully purchasing guns.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is prosecuting six of the 10 offenders. The remaining four cases are being prosecuted by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, the report said.

In a separate investigation, 13 offenders were charged with drug or gun crimes as a result of our work with the FBI. These charges included drug deliveries, and unlawful gun possession and sales.

Also, the SAO’s work with the Department of Homeland Security, Elgin Police and ATF resulted in the seizure of 31 weapons from a storage locker in Elgin. Among the weapons seized were five fully automatic long guns, a grenade launcher and hand grenades, and .50 caliber rifles and semi-automatic rifles.

“These investigations demonstrate the trust that federal agencies have in our office,” the report said. “The investigations were complex and involved experienced prosecutors who took on additional responsibilities to ensure that law-enforcement efforts were directed toward the ultimate goal of removing illegal guns and drugs from Kane County communities.”

Notable Dispositions in 2016

Dimitri Green-Hosey (CREDIT: Kane County SAO Facebook page)

Dimitri Green-Hosey was sentenced to 105 years’ imprisonment after he was convicted for the 2014 first-degree murder of Arin Williams of Aurora. His brother, Jaquan Green-Hosey, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty for his role in the murder. The men robbed Williams at gunpoint after they told him they wanted to buy marijuana from him, and then shot him in the head.

Armando Delgado was sentenced to 28 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder after he fired multiple gunshots into a car he believed contained rival gang members.

Luis Lomeli was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment for a multi- county crime spree. Lomeli and three others planned a robbery to finance a night of alcohol and drug use. They stabbed a man nearly to death and stole his money in Aurora, unsuccessfully tried to rob a man in Montgomery, then bought drugs in Ottawa and killed the man who sold them the drugs. Lomeli was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the LaSalle County murder.

Tranon Meeks was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery. Meeks had arranged to buy marijuana from a man. When the man arrived at Meeks’ home, Meeks robbed him at gunpoint of cash, a cell phone, miscellaneous items and the marijuana.

Michael Morales was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for being in possession of a handgun he was prohibited by law from possessing. At the time he was arrested in the case Morales was a known gang member. Co-defendant London Gray was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for his role in the case.

Brett Ledbetter was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for firing multiple gunshots at an Elgin home. Ledbetter knew the home was occupied at the time. No one was injured.

Erik Esparza (CREDIT: SAO Facebook page)

Erik Esparza was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a handgun and pointing it at an Aurora police officer. Co-defendant Rene Muro was sentenced to 6 years, 7 months’ imprisonment for his role in the incident.

Jerome Murry was sentenced to five then bought drugs in Ottawa and killed the man who sold them the drugs. Lomeli was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the LaSalle County murder.

Rich Schmelzer (CREDIT: SAO Facebook page)

Rich Schmelzer was convicted of first-degree murder after he drove from Texas to East Dundee to kill his 85-year-old grandmother. He awaits sentencing, and faces between 20 and 60 years’ imprisonment.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office 2016 report. To follow news releases directly from the SAO, visit the State’s Attorney’s website and Facebook page.