A judge on Thursday reduced the bonds set for three teens charged in a brawl between rival high school groups that resulted in the death of an Elgin man, despite opposition from prosecutors and the victim’s relatives.
Two of the three suspects posted the lower bond later. A fourth suspect, whose bond was not reduced, was released from the Kane County Jail on Wednesday after he posted the amount set previously.
“It’s very, very upsetting,” said Dale Coughran, of Genoa, the uncle of the victim, 20-year-old Nicholas Swanson. “More pressure would be put on them to speak the truth if they were in jail rather than being cuddled by their parents at home.”
Bond was originally set at $250,000 for all four defendants.
On Thursday, Kane County Judge Grant Wegner lowered that amount to $50,000 for David West, 18, of Geneva and $65,000 for Brian G. Halling, 18, of St. Charles. Both are charged with aggravated battery.
Bond for 19-year-old Christopher Leon of South Elgin, charged with obstruction of justice, was reduced to $35,000.
West and Leon both posted the lower amounts, but Halling had not posted bond Thursday evening and remained in custody at the jail, the sheriff’s department said.
A fourth man, 18-year-old James Scimeca of St. Charles, who is charged with aggravated battery, posted bond Wednesday after his motion for a bond reduction was denied.
Prosecutors opposed the lower bonds.
“We believed that based upon the seriousness of the offense that $250,000 was an appropriate bond,” Kane County Assistant State’s Atty. Clint Hull said.
Although attorneys for all four defendants have indicated their clients will plead innocent, none had been arraigned, Hull said.
