Illinois man faces 10 years as accomplice in Hammond double slaying
An Illinois man faces 10 years after he signed a plea deal filed Monday as an accomplice in a double slaying near a Hammond bar.
Gerardo Gudino, 30, of Sauk Village, Ill., admitted to two counts of assisting a criminal. A judge would have to review and accept the plea. His sentencing is April 30.
Hammond Police were called at 3:35 a.m. Oct. 7, 2021 to the 700 block of Locust Street where a man shot in the head was slumped over in the passenger seat in a tan Honda Civic. The car had been hit by bullets multiple times.
A second man was dead in the front yard after he was shot multiple times in the chest and stomach, according to the affidavit. Witnesses said they heard 20-30 shots.
The man in the car was identified as Deandre Easter, 27, of Calumet City, Illinois, while the man in the yard was Danniel Gamez, 26, of East Chicago. Gamez had cash in his right hand.
Police believed co-defendant Jorge Garza thought Gamez was an easy mark to rob for a gun, charges state. Both intended to rob each other, according to the affidavit.
Garza got 24 years in January 2023. Co-defendant Javiar Galvan’s sentencing is in February.
Judge denies bid for home detention in 1984 Hobart home invasion, rape
Judge Natalie Bokota denied a bid to switch the rest of a man’s 6-year prison term to home detention for a 1984 Hobart home invasion and rape.
Joel Williams, 58, pleaded guilty on June 15, 2023 to Felony B rape. A DNA hit linked him in 2019. After prison, he will also serve four years probation.
He wrote he showed “continual progress” for re-entry.
In response, Deputy Prosecutor Infinity Westberg wrote Williams was legally considered a “violent criminal” and only served a small portion of his sentence. He was already rejected to go directly into the Lake County Community Corrections program, she added.
On March 20, 1984, three men, including Williams, forced their way into a home in the 2000 block of East 39th Avenue at gunpoint and raped and forced the victims inside to perform sexual acts, a probable cause affidavit states. The men “ransacked the house” and stole items, including a white 1975 Plymouth Roadrunner, according to the affidavit.
Of the three men in the case, one is now dead and another was never identified.
Illinois man faces up to 9 years in Munster gas station shooting
An Illinois man faces up to nine years in a Munster gas station shooting.
Marque Jackson, 48, of Tinley Park, Ill., pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated battery. A judge would have to review and accept the plea deal. His sentencing is March 20.
Munster Police responded at 4 a.m. Sept. 2 to the Speedway gas station at 444 Ridge Road for a reported shooting.
The victim told police he went to the gas station to confront Jackson, a man he didn’t know, after he saw him on video chat spending a lot of time with his girlfriend at a bar across the street.
Lake Station man faces up to 30 years in drug-related killing
A Lake Station man faces up to 30 years in a drug-related killing.
Michael Randall, 47, signed a plea deal filed Tuesday for voluntary manslaughter. He would also be on probation for the rest of his life. A judge would have to review and accept the plea. His sentencing is April 1.
Lake Station Police were called at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 to the 2300 block of Warren Street where they saw Kyle W. Cornelius, 36, shot 11 times, lying face down and shot inside a house.
“I’ll be over to see you when I get home this evening,” Randall wrote in a text, including a picture of a man holding a large amount of cash.
“I’ll be home after 2 today. I just want my money,” Cornelius responded.
Randall told investigators he parked at the Lake Station civic center on Feb. 21, then walked to Cornelius’ house to repay $2,200. Cornelius gave him “weed” to sell while Randall was injured and off work, charges allege.
