A Westmont man was convicted Friday in the murder of his 69-year-old neighbor and the attempted rape of the victim’s wife.
DuPage County Circuit Judge George Bakalis found Scott Falkner guilty of the murder of Ronald Ross, residential burglary and the attempted sexual assault of Linda Ross.
Bakalis discarded defense lawyer David Wiener’s claims that Falkner didn’t understand his criminal acts because he suffered from mental illnesses and consuming cocaine had made him delirious.
Assistant State’s Atty. Jennifer Hulvat contended that Falkner has been using cocaine for more than three years and that he had planned to rape the woman. She said the murder was committed in furtherance of the planned rape.
Testimony indicated that Falkner took cocaine while working at Maywood Park Racetrack on Sept. 4, 1999, left work early and went to the Westmont townhouse he shared with his mother.
He allegedly saw Ross doing yard work and asked him into his townhouse. When Ross obliged, Falkner fatally stabbed him, the prosecution claimed.
Then he allegedly went to the Ross townhouse and into the bedroom where Linda Ross was asleep. According to testimony, she talked Falkner out of going through with the assault, and he fled. He was arrested the next day in New Mexico.
Bakalis set Nov. 22 for sentencing of Falkner, who is eligible for up to 60 years in prison.
