Hobart man gets 13 years in shooting, burglary
A Hobart man was sentenced Thursday by Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez to 13 years in prison for aggravated battery, criminal recklessness and burglary.
Nino Nikoljic, 21, admitted in court that he was in the area of his home on Oct. 4 in the 1100 block of West 38th Place and was involved in a confrontation when he shot a man. Two other men were present, and Nikoljic fired several shots in the area, according to court records. One of the shots struck a neighbor’s garage while the neighbor was home.
The victim suffered life-threatening injuries to his intestines and urinary track.
Nikoljic also admitted that he and two other men went into a residence on July 13, 2014, in Lake Station with the intent to commit theft. Instead, the victim’s dog was shot but survived.
The plea agreement outlined the sentence.
Nikoljic had faced 20 to 40 years on an attempted murder charge and 10 to 30 years in the burglary case. Nikoljic was free on bond in the burglary case when he was involved in the shooting.
Gary man sentenced for attack along trail
A Gary man was sentenced Thursday by Lake Superior Court Judge Samuel Cappas to seven years in prison for attempted criminal deviate conduct.
Devonta Devon Brewington, 19, admitted in court that he attacked a 27-year-old woman on May 6, 2014, as she was riding her bicycle on a bike trail between 51st and 52nd avenues in Gary. The trail on the Gary-Hobart border near Robinson Lake goes under Interstate 65.
Brewington grabbed the woman, which caused her to fall from her bike. He then forced her onto her side and pulled down her pants.
Brewington had faced six to 20 years on charges of attempted criminal deviate conduct and robbery resulting in bodily injury. The plea agreement outlined the sentence and called for dismissal of charges of robbery, criminal confinement, sexual battery and battery.
Brewington also was charged in juvenile court with an Aug. 1, 2013, attack on a 21-year-old Glen Park woman who told police she was grabbed around the neck, dragged to the ground and had her pants pulled down. The woman screamed for help and someone shouted in response, which caused Brewington to run away, according to court records. He was 17 at the time.
Illinois man gets 10 years on cocaine charge
An Illinois man was sentenced Thursday by Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez to 10 years in prison for dealing in cocaine.
George Richard Reitz, 35, of Lansing, told the judge he had taken steps to address his long-term addiction once he posted bond by immediately checking himself into the Salvation Army drug rehabilitation program. Reitz told the judge he was exposed to drug use at an early age and had trouble coping with difficulties in his life, including being shot during an attempted carjacking.
“I don’t blame anyone but myself,” Reitz said.
Defense attorney Mark Chargualaf said his client has four prior felony convictions, none of which involves crimes of violence. Chargualaf said Reitz dropped out of school when he was 16 and began running the family business when his father was in drug rehab. He later earned the equivalent of his high school diploma while he was incarcerated in Illinois.
Chargualaf argued for a 10-year sentence, with six years executed in the Indiana Department of Corrections therapeutic community for purposeful incarceration for chemically addicted offenders and the remaining four years suspended and served on probation.
In court in June, Reitz admitted that on April 10, 2014, he was in the 200 block of Broadmoor Avenue in Munster waiting for a woman to return to his car when he was stopped by police and arrested on an outstanding warrant.
As a result of a search related to his arrest, police discovered $10,000, a spoon, a wallet with $635, several plastic bags containing cocaine, a small plastic bag containing a brownish, powdery substance, plastic bags used to package narcotics, two bottles of a sleep aid used to cut narcotics and a digital scale with a white powdery substance.
Deputy prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz described Reitz as a bona fide drug dealer who had several opportunities to turn around his life. Based on Reitz’s criminal history, Jatkiewicz said, an aggravated sentence of 18 years in prison was warranted.
Man gets probation for theft from Target in Munster
An Illinois man was sentenced by Lake Superior Court Judge Diane Ross Boswell to three years on probation for robbery.
Sterling Hannah Turner, 19, of Chicago Heights, admitted in court that two loss prevention officers saw him remove several items from the fragrance aisle on June 7 at Target in Munster. Turner then left the store with the merchandise without paying for it, which prompted the two loss prevention specialists to try to stop him. Turner punched one employee and scratched a second employee, according to court records.
Turner had faced three to 16 years on the original charge, which was dismissed. He is banned from contact with the two employees and from all Target stores while he is on probation.
Hammond man charged with robbery outside grocery
A Hammond man admitted to police he committed a robbery because he wanted to have money for his upcoming birthday to buy a new outfit, shoes, a cake and a trip to Illinois to drive go-karts, court records state.
Donameche Lacar Davis, who turns 22 this week, wrote a letter of apology to the victim during his interview with police following his arrest on Monday in Hammond, the probable cause affidavit states. Davis also uses the last name of Henderson.
The victim told police she was loading groceries into her car on Aug. 6 in the parking lot at Food 4 Less, 1724 165th St., Hammond, when she felt a tug on her neck and struggled with a man later identified as Davis as he grabbed her necklace, shirt and purse, the probable cause affidavit states. The woman said she punched the man, who hit her in the face with a cellphone, court records state. The woman said she let go of her purse and the man ran away, records state. During the incident, the man dropped his cellphone, records state.
Surveillance footage shows Davis loading groceries into the car of friends, then approaching the victim before fleeing in a blue Nissan, records state. The friends whose groceries he helped load drove away in the car, but Davis flagged them down and got inside the vehicle.
The robbery charge is punishable by three to 16 years.
Man accused of threatening Lowell judge
An Indianapolis man has been charged with intimidation for alleged threats made to a town court judge.
Michael James Cable, 42, became disruptive and disrespectful while appearing in court on Aug. 19 before Lowell Town Court Judge Karen Coulis, the probable cause affidavit states. Cable’s court appearance was for charges filed July 12 of refusal to identify, possession of marijuana and resisting law enforcement. An additional charge of disorderly conduct was filed against him in Lowell Town Court. After his court hearing, he was transported back to the Lake County Jail.
On Sept. 16, a letter addressed to “Lowell Town Court” was received that made threatening statements. The letter was sent from Lake County Jail and allegedly was signed by Cable, according to the probable cause affidavit. “You will pay personally prior to me leaving the vicinity of your little town,” the letter states.
A charge of intimidation is punishable by one to six years.
Confrontation over bike in Lowell leads to charges
A Lowell man has been charged with intimidation following a confrontation over a bicycle.
Kenneth Lee Levitt, 35, of the 17300 block of Sequoia Avenue, was charged in Lake Superior Court.
The victim told police he, his girlfriend and her son were walking about 5 p.m. Sept. 19 from a gas station when they spotted the boy’s lost or stolen bicycle being used by Levitt’s 12-year-old son, according to court records. After taking the bike from the boy, the victim, his girlfriend and her son walked to nearby Liberty Park, where Levitt confronted the man, the probable cause affidavit states.
The victim refused to engage in an altercation with Levitt, who opened a pocket knife and lunged toward the man, then chased him and continued to taunt him, according to court records.
The charge is a Level 5 felony, which is punishable by one to six years.
— Ruth Ann Krause
