I am writing to notify you of a Victims’ Rights Rally happening in Morrison, IL, today, Monday, April 18, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., on the N.E. corner of Cherry Street and IL Route 30.
[Chad and Arminda Von Holten] found out late Friday afternoon, April 15, that the State’s Attorney [Terry] Costello, (who is the family’s attorney), and James Mertes (defendant Charles Von Holten’s attorney), and the Judge met Thursday[, April 14,] and settled upon a plea deal.
Unfortunately, it is not in the [10-year-old] victim’s favor at all. [According to the proposed plea agreement,] the defendant is only getting four year’s probation and no jail time.
This man raped and sexually assaulted his young granddaughters. To say that the family is upset is an understatement!
Supposedly, the defendant has to come before a Judge sometime, in what they think will be this week, and the Judge will have to accept the plea deal. The family is not being told when, so they have Sheriff John Booker trying to help them find out when it will be.
Editor’s note: The case will come before Honorable Judge Trish Senneff on Tuesday, April 19, at 9:00 a.m. The Courthouse opens at 8:30.
The judge has to ask if the family is okay with the plea, which they are not. They want this to go to trial.