Concert originally proposed for Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve in Geneva By ERIC SCHELKOPF
eschelkopf@shawmedia.com
Illinois Supreme Court upholds guilty verdict in shooting of 6-year-old boy By BRENDA SCHORY
bschory@shawmedia.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday reversed an appellate decision, upholding a Kane County verdict in which a gang member was sentenced to 70 years in prison for the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy in 1996. In 2010, a jury convicted Mark Downs, formerly of Montgomery, of first-degree murder in the death of Nicholas “Nico” Contreras as Nico slept at his grandmother’s house in Aurora. Prosecutors alleged Downs creeped to the back of the house and fired a handgun through a window at the bed where he believed Nico’s uncle was asleep. Instead of the uncle – who was the target in a gang dispute – Nico was in the bed and was struck in the back of his head with two bullets. Downs, now 38, appealed successfully, arguing the
“We are, first and foremost, pleased for Nico Contreras’ family and friends that the Illinois Supreme Court agreed with our position.” Joe McMahon
Kane County state’s attorney state court was in error when it defined “reasonable doubt” in response to a juror’s question during deliberations. The appellate court vacated Downs’ conviction and ordered a new trial. But Kane County appealed that decision to the state supreme court and prevailed this week. Illinois is among the jurisdictions that do not define “reasonable doubt” because it is considered “self-defining,” according to the supreme court’s ruling.
In a 10-page unanimous decision, the state’s high court ruled there was no error and sent the case back to the appellate court for Downs’ other assertion that he had ineffective counsel. In a news release, Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon noted his office’s focus always has been on obtaining justice for the victim and his family. “Throughout this appeal process, we have remained focused on justice for Nico, who would now be 24 years old, justice for his family and justice for his community – which was galvanized by his murder to begin to put an end to the senseless gang violence that had plagued the city of Aurora for far too long,” McMahon stated in the release. “We are, first and foremost, pleased for Nico Contreras’ family and friends that the Illinois Supreme Court agreed with our position,” McMahon added.
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• Friday, June 19, 2015
SOUTH ELGIN – The Whitesnake concert originally planned for Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve in Geneva has been moved to Vasa Park near South Elgin after a Kane County Forest Preserve Commission committee turned down Onesti Entertainment Corporation’s request to use the park for the concert. The concert will be at 7 p.m. July 17 at Vasa Park, 35W217 Route 31 near South Elgin. Two other bands, Foghat and The Answer, also are part of the bill. Tickets are available by going to www.oshows.com. The Kane County Forest Preserve Commission’s planning and utilization committee recently turned down a request from Ron Onesti, president and founder of Onesti Entertainment, to hold a three-day music festival at Gunnar Anderson
Forest Preserve. Committee members had several concerns, including that the festival could damage the park’s turf. Onesti said he understood the committee’s concerns. “I actually commend the forest preserve commissioners for protecting the property so dearly,” Onesti said. “I fully understand where they are coming from.” Onesti said he is happy with the concert’s new location, calling Vasa Park a “gem” on Route 31. Onesti said he expects that more than 3,000 people will attend the concert. He said Vasa Park wasn’t available for multiple days, which is why the festival has been cut down to one day. Ticket sales are going well, Onesti said. “I am thankful that our customers trust us and know that wherever the concert is going to be, it’s going to be a safe, clean and well-run event,” Onesti said.
AURORA
LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com
Whitesnake concert moved to Vasa Park in South Elgin