Serving the Forreston area since 1865
FORRESTON Journal December 12, 2013 Volume 151, Number 33 - $1.00
Tournaments
4-H Awards
The Polo Girls Tournament and Forreston Boys Tournament schedules are announced. B1-B2
Tax Appeal
Ogle County 4-H members were recognized Nov. 17. A7
Exelon Nuclear officials have appealed their 2013 property tax assessment. A13
Bench trial set in Mitchell case Judge will decide if man is insane By Chris Johnson Reporter
An end may be in sight for a case against a man accused of stabbing a Leaf River couple more than two years ago. Michael Mitchell, 29, Leaf River, appeared before Ogle County Judge John Redington Monday afternoon with his public defender Eric Morrow, who filed a motion for an affirmative defense. Morrow said the motion says Mitchell is not responsible for his conduct due to his mental disease. Assistant State’s Attorney Aaron Wiles did not object to the motion. Redington set a stipulated bench trial for Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. Mitchell will remain in the Ogle County Jail while awaiting the bench trial. At a bench trial, a judge decides whether a defendant
is guilty or innocent. In this case Redington will decide if Mitchell, who has been examined by mental health experts, is not guilty by reason of insanity. If he is determined to be insane, Mitchell could be committed to a secure mental health facility for an extended period of time. Mitchell is accused of breaking into the home of David and Denise Zellers on July 3, 2011 and repeatedly stabbing them with two knives he brought with him. Both suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital. They have since recovered. After fleeing on foot from the scene, Mitchell was taken into custody a short distance from the Zellers home after a five-hour manhunt. Mitchell is charged with four counts of attempted murder, all Class X felonies, two counts of home invasion, both Class X felonies, and four counts of aggravated battery, all Class 4 felonies.
Visiting Santa
Judge agrees to reduce Steder’s bond to $25,000 By Vinde Wells Editor
A Mt. Morris man accused of hate crimes and battery is out of jail after an Ogle County judge reduced his bond last week. Matthew Steder, 22, posted bond and was released after Judge Robert Hanson reduced his bond from $250,000 to $25,000 at a hearing Dec. 6. Steder is charged with three counts of hate crimes, Class 4 felonies, one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and three counts of battery in connection with an underage drinking party last August that resulted in the death of an Oregon teen. He has been held in the Whiteside County Jail since he turned himself in to Ogle County Sheriff’s Police on Nov. 28. The motion for a bond reduction was filed by Steder’s attorney David Tess, Rochelle. Hanson said he agreed that the original bond was set too high, but voiced concerns over Steder’s criminal past. “I’m concerned over his history at such a young age,� Hanson said. “I believe the bond at $250,000 is too high, but I believe it should be sufficiently high to ensure he will appear in court.� Hanson reduced the bond and set several conditions Steder must adhere to, including no consumption of alcohol or any drugs other than prescribed by a doctor, no violations of the law, and
he must continue to reside with his mother and stepfather in Mt. Morris. Tess said Steder has a good job that is being held for him. He said his client wants to return to work. Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Versluys objected to the bond reduction. He said Steder is accused of three crimes of violence against three different victims in the current case, and has a history of violent behavior and alcohol abuse. Steder is one of two men charged with hate crimes stemming from a drinking party in Oregon on Aug. 10 where a fight broke out that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Jonathan Williams. Justin Coltrain, 33, Mt. Morris, also appeared before Hanson on Dec. 6. He is charged with one count each of hate crime and battery. Ogle County State’s Attorney Michael Rock said the two made the racial slurs against African Americans who were also at the party and struck them. Hanson appointed Oregon attorney Dennis Riley, a public defender, to represent Coltrain in court. Coltrain requested Riley because he is already representing him in another case. Coltrain is currently being held in the Whiteside County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. Coltrain and Steder, who Turn to A3
In This Week’s Edition...
Above, Leighton Byers, age 1, pouts when she met with Santa Dec. 6 at the Forreston Library. At left, Brennan Byers, age 4, talks to Santa about what he would like for Christmas. Brennan also let Santa know that his young sister Kate, age 2 months, would like a teddy bear for Christmas. Photos by Chris Johnson
Lions will host dinner and auction The Forreston Lions Club will hold its annual Christmas dinner and auction on Sunday, Dec. 15 in the community room of the Forreston Fire Department. Light refreshments of crackers, cheese and a vegetable tray will begin at 5:30 p.m. The meal will follow at 6 p.m. The menu includes baked cod, fried chicken, baked potatoes, salad, vegetable, dinner roll, cherry cheesecake, coffee, and cold drink. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. To attend, bring a wrapped gift valued at more than $12 as a “meal ticket�. Immediately after the meal the auction will begin. Lion auctioneers Lorence Ludwig, Wally Kilker and Virgil Swalve will auction the wrapped gifts to the highest bidder. Unwrapping the gift, after it has been bought is always fun, as participants have no idea what they might have
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B7-B14 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4
just purchased. The profit raised from this evening of good food and fun will be designated to various Lion’s programs. Some of the programs have
been a hearing bus that was in recreation swimming and Forreston in August, and in roller skating in the past. September the blood mobile. The Lions also financially The summer ball program assist the International Lions is a big undertaking for the Turn to A3 club, as well as summer
Forreston Lions Alice Akins and Liz Palmer add bows to the door prizes for the club’s upcoming dinner and auction. Lion Kriss Wolff makes the decorations and door prizes for the event, which features an auction of wrapped Christmas gifts. Photo by Vinde Wells
Oregon Police,B6 Pine Creek News, A3 Polo Senior Center, A8 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B5
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4 Weather, A2
Deaths, B3 Richard A. DeKoning, Alicia M. Gillick, Erling H. Johnson, Oscar O. Ohlsson Jr., Deloris A. Schroers, Delores A. Schroeder
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