Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 1-16

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Steven Bryant, 23, of the 2800block of North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, faces life imprisonment for the fatal shooting of Ricardo Martinez Jr.He is scheduled to be sentenced next month by Cook County Circuit Judge Bertina Lampkin. Martinez, killed in April 2006while he and his friends were on their way home from a Cubs game. When a quarrel broke out among his friends over a missing cell phone, Martinez stopped his car near Cicero Avenueand Addison Street and waited while his companions scuffled on the sidewalk. At the same time, Bryant, a reputed member of the Insane Deucesstreet gang, was riding in a car with a fellow gang member who saw the group of men and mistook one of them for a member of a rival gang. Bryant leaned out the window and fired at the man but missed, striking Martinez in the head and shoulder.

Martinez died several days later. But Bryant was not charged until nearly a year later while he was in prison for an unrelated offense. Authorities recorded him making incriminating telephone calls to his mother and other witnesses. He was also recorded telling an undercover officer that he wanted two women who witnessed the shooting killed to prevent them from testifying against him, prosecutors said. Defendant convicted in slaying of war vet case.

He has denied involvement. the longer that gone by, the more we can reasonably conclude that she just disappear on her own, Kivisto said. think time pretty much solidifies that. Two years have gone There is a for information leading to her whereabouts. Freelancer Joseph Ruzich contributed to this report.

By Erika Slife TRIBUNE REPORTER Lisa name may have faded from headlines, but the investigation into her April 30, carries on, family and police said. On Thursday, loved ones of the Plainfield mom marked the second anniversary of her disappearance with a candlelight vigil at the gazebo in a park near her home, at the end of the 13000 block of Red Star Drive. It was a painful milestone for a family that has had to learn to live with lingering questions. completely lost hope that it will be solved, but it has been very discouraging that been two said Melanie Greenberg, cousin. About 50 family members, friends and neighbors stopped by the gazebo for the candlelight vigil.

They placed signs in the grass, including one that showed a cross with photo. Othersigns had drawings of butterflies. One sign with a purple butterfly on it read: though you are not with us anymore, in our thoughts, in our memories, in our hearts Several people spoke at the vigil and shared their memories of Stebic. a very difficult Green- bergsaid. know dead, but we have not found her body.

had a funeral. no grave for us to In recent months, authorities have said uncovered new details in the investigation, though nothing that will the But Plainfield Police Detective Sgt. Troy Kivistosaid the investigation has by gone cold. certainly want a reso- lution for the family and for Kivisto said. been working this for two years straight, Stebic was 37when she was last seen by her husband, Craig.

The couple had begun divorce proceedings, and on the day she disappeared, she had mailed her lawyer a petition to have her husband evicted from their home. Police, who suspect foul play, have named him a of in the Painful milestone in Stebic case Barb Scheff (left) and Marie Petges help mark the second anniversary of Lisa disappearance. ABEL PHOTO By Andrea L. Brown SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE The Barrington High School senior accused of raping two students last weekend is a good kid who should not have been charged with a crime, his father said Thursday. Bruce Johnston, 18, of the 800 block of Roberts Road in Tower Lakes, was arrested Sunday and charged with two counts of sexual assault in Barrington Hills, authorities said.

The first alleged encounter took place April 24with a 17-year-old girl, said attorney, Robert Hanaford. The second alleged encounter took place the next day, Saturday, when police went to arrest Johnston on the first charge. Authorities said they found Johnston having sex with another girl, a minor. The minor is 14, said Hanaford, who declined to comment further on that incident. Hanaford said Johnston and the 17-year-old saw each other on the night of April 24.

When they parted ways, the girl hugged and kissed Johnston, and two witnesses who saw her later said she showed no signs of distress, Hanaford said. Johnston was still in jail Thursday, held in lieu of $150,000 bail. Family members said they afford to post bond. Hanaford said he planned to meet with prosecutors Friday to try to get bail reduced. Bruce father said his son will be adversely affected regardless of the outcome.

son is a good William Johnston said. a very popular A Barrington High School spokesman said Bruce Johnston is suspended from school, pending the outcome. McHenry County Assistant Atty. Michael Combsde- clined to comment Thursday. Dad calls teen accused of 2 rapes a Lawyers for former Chicago Police Cmdr.

Jon Burge have asked to move his trial from Chicago, arguing that news reports have made it impossible for him to be treated fairly by a jury here. The attorneys contend that prejudicial pretrial has damaged ability to get a fair shake. On Wednesday, the lawyers gave U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkowa sampling of news accounts they say demonstrate the point. Burge has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly concealing his involvement in torture.

He has pleaded not guilty. Burge requests change of venue Prosecutors will be allowed to counter statements that Brian Dugansaved two other men from Death Row when he confessed to the 1983murder of Jeanine Nicaricoby arguing that intention was only to save himself from execution, a DuPage County judge ruled Thursday. attorneys told Judge George Bakalislast year they are considering having Dugan plead guilty to the rape and murder of the 10- year-old Naperville girl so a jury would decide only if he should get the death penalty. Dugan confession motives fair game A Wheaton man who admitted sexually assaulting two young girls while baby-sitting them in their Elburn homes was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison. In a deal with Kane County prosecutors, Francis G.

Nolen, 34, the 26W300 block of Box Elder Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of criminal sexual assault. Nolen knew the families through an Elburn-area church that he attended, Assistant Atty. Christine Bayer said. Baby-sitter gets prison in sex case Lisa Stebic fundraising Last year 250 people raised about $6,000 for Guardian Angel Community Services and marked the anniversary of disappearance: chicagotribune.com/stebic Product: CTMAIN PubDate: 05-01-2009 Zone: ALL Edition: HD Page: 1-16 User: cci Time: Color:.