Unique powers and requirements of the Juvenile Court System played out in Courtroom 108, Tuesday, April 22, 2014, during a tense Sentencing Hearing. At the conclusion, The Honorable William McNeal paroled Boy-17, who had plead guilty to starting the devastating fire in Prophetstown, IL, in the predawn hours of July 15, 2013. His half-brother, Boy-12, also plead guilty and was paroled on Tuesday, January 21. He resides with his father and step-mother in Prophetstown. Boy-17 will continue to live with his mother and her boyfriend in Wisconsin.
On Tuesday, July 16, 2013–the day after the fire–both boys had given up their right to a hearing, whereby the State would have to prove they committed the offense.
Judge McNeal sentenced the boy to serve five years on probation or until he turns 21. That was the stiffest probation term possible. He was not given incarceration through the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.
A condition of Boy-12’s placement on probation was requested by States Attorney’s Office Prosecutor Carol Linkowski. Boy-12 must participate in a procedure new to Whiteside County: Victim-Offender Conferencing. The rationale is that offenders usually do not learn about the human cost of their actions in the courtroom. Conferencing allows offenders to fully-realize that cost and attempt to make things right in some way. When victims hold offenders accountable and offenders take responsibility for their actions, the healing process begins.
The plea agreement called for dismissal of 18 associated charges including
- being a delinquent minor who, on Monday, July 15, 2013, committed residential arson and knowingly damaged the residence of Cindy Erics.
- knowingly damaging the real property of Cindy Erics without the consent of Cindy Erics.
- committing criminal damage to property recklessly, by means of fire in a recycling bin, that damaged the property of Cindy Erics., causing damage that exceeded $100,000.
- committing felony arson.
Boy-16, his Defense Attorney Mark Holldorf, and supportive adults entered the courtroom. The older boy has been under electronic monitoring, while living in Prophetstown and after returning home to Wisconsin to live with his mother. Attorney Holldorf requested the monitoring device be removed or that a modification be made to allow more leniency wearing it.
Because they are juveniles, neither boy’s identity is to be published.