Courtroom 108 at the Sterling, IL, branch of the Whiteside County Courthouse, is compact–almost intimate–in size. There are only four short benches for public and the media. On Wednesday, July 17, 2013, spectators included just five female reporters, one of whom was journalist Chris Minor from WQAD, Channel 8. They had come to record the proceedings of two juveniles charged with starting a calamitous Main Street fire on Monday, July 15, in Prophetstown, IL.
Five family members silently faced the judge, visibly ill at ease. There was the children’s father, his own father, the mother of Boy-16, her mother, and a step-mother. Boy-12’s mother was not in attendance. Ironically, the half-brothers have the same first and last names, with different initials for middle names. Because they are juveniles, their identity is not to be published.
Apropos of court events, there was a half-hour delay; Judge Michael Albert began at 11:00 a.m. However, he finished by 11:20. Two sturdy State Correctional Officers led the boys into the hushed courtroom, the first man towered over the 12-year-old. They had transferred the boys from Mary Davis Home in Knox County, a secure juvenile detention center. The suspects were handcuffed and wore leg shackles, both secured by wide, oversized leather belts around their childish waists.
Each sat beside his attorney: Boy-12 with Colleen Buckwalter and Boy-16 with Mark Holldorf. Judge Albert read them the pre-trial conditions offered by prosecutor Carol Linkowski, and each said they understood, and agreed to, them. They gave up their right to a hearing whereby the State would have to prove they committed the offense.
- Boy-12 was put on 24-hour supervision at his father’s home in Prophetstown.
- Boy-16 was remanded to Mary Davis Home for “the protection of others and personal property” by Judge Albert. The young man cried.
The boys will make a First Appearance on separate days: Boy-16 on Tuesday, July 23; Boy-12 on Tuesday, July 30.