A judge said Thursday that a Barrington man free on bond after allegedly killing his wife must report to court within 24 hours of his release from an area hospital, where he is currently receiving in-patient treatment.
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But Judge Daniel Shanes deflected a request from Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg that Larry Lotz should be required to wear a leg monitor upon release from the hospital, where his attorney said the Vietnam War veteran is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
“He’s charged with first-degree murder,” Rothenberg said to Shanes.
“I’m aware of the charges,” Shanes responded, adding that Lotz is out after posting the required money for a $3 million bail. The judge noted Lotz is currently in the hospital and will be required to follow all of the requirements set by the court’s pretrial services department.
“If he’s not in the hospital and pretrial wants him to stop by (to report in person) every day, he’s here every day,” Shanes said.
The judge directed defense attorney Robert Hauser to appear before him with Lotz within 24 hours of his release from the hospital, and said that if Hauser is not available he will need to find another attorney to step up for him.
Rothenberg expressed concern that Lotz was not being monitored by the pretrial services department while in the hospital, but Hauser responded that Lotz had spoken to pretrial representative Wednesday.
Although Shanes had refused to reduce the $3 million bail on May 2, the defendant’s two sons, as well as other family and friends, pooled money and posted the $300,000 necessary for his release from custody later that day, Hauser said.
Hauser added it was necessary to gain Lotz’s release in order for him to receive mental health treatment that he was not receiving in jail. Hauser has said he is considering an insanity defense for Lotz.
Lotz allegedly shot and killed his wife, Karen Lotz, on Jan. 15 after an argument prosecutors said began over a coffee pot being left on in the kitchen of the couple’s Barrington home.
He was arrested Jan. 15 after he called 911 and told dispatchers he had shot his wife, according to authorities.
Terms of the bond release include that Lotz possess no firearms and that he report regularly to the pretrial services department.
Hauser has said that a pretrial assessment and report for Lotz showed that he was at a very low risk to re-offend, and the attorney said he wants to assure the public that Lotz is “not a danger to anybody.”
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