Lake County‘s top prosecutor has decided to drop the controversial murder charges he filed a month ago against five teens whose friend was killed during an alleged burglary. The prosecutor is dropping them for lesser charges under an agreement with the families of the suspects.
“The circumstances and facts outlined in my statement support the charge of felony murder,” Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim said in a statement Thursday morning. “However, after full consideration of all the evidence, mitigation presented by defense counsel as well as the wishes of the victim’s family, my office has entered into an agreement with defense counsel for the five offenders. This agreement ensures all offenders will be held responsible and face appropriate sentences.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, under the deal, 18-year-old-Diamond Davis, of Chicago, will appear in Lake County bond court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday where she will be charged with felony conspiracy to commit burglary and misdemeanor criminal trespass to a motor vehicle. Davis is expected today to waive her preliminary hearing, then plead guilty to the two charges next week, Nerheim said.
Nerheim said the cases against the other four suspects, ages 16 and 17, will be moved to Juvenile Court, where the felony murder charge will be dismissed. “Due to strict laws governing juvenile courtroom proceedings, my office is unable to give details regarding the charges involving the juveniles going forward,” he said.
The teens who’ve been dubbed the “Lake County Five” were charged with murder in the shooting of one of their friends by an Old Mill Creek homeowner, during an attempted burglary. The homeowner told police the group was in his driveway near one of his cars in the early morning hours of Aug. 13.
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