A bond reduction request was denied Tuesday for a Round Lake man accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 16-year-old Allendale youth home resident.
James Davis, 37, has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice in connection with the March 30 death of Shaquan Allen of Chicago.
Defense attorney Eric Rinehart told Judge Daniel Shanes that Davis, who is being held on $500,000 bond, is a Navy veteran with a solid work record and no prior criminal convictions.
Rinehart criticized a risk assessment report that he claims wrongly stated Davis was convicted of driving on a suspended license. The report penalized Davis for recently moving from Zion, where he had lived for nine years.
Rinehart said he was surprised the report concluded there was a 40 percent chance Davis would violate terms of his bond because the charge for doing so would be more serious than the charges Davis is currently facing, which can result in probation upon conviction.
Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg said the report stated Davis has lived in his current home for less than a year and was stopped by both Lake Villa police and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies for driving on a suspended license.
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Rinehart noted Davis has not been convicted of either charge.
Shanes refused to lower bond and Davis remains in Lake County Jail.
A second defendant, Justin Serak, 27, of Grafton, Wis., has pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing justice for allegedly providing false information to police.
Prosecutors said Allen was misbehaving when Davis and Serak each took an arm and tried to escort him back to his bedroom. Allen became combative, prompting Davis to put him in a chokehold, authorities said.
When Allen became unresponsive, the two employees agreed to a story that Allen had knocked over a cup of water and fell, authorities said.
Attorneys for Allendale have been attending hearings because both defense attorneys have attempted to subpoena information from the facility.
Also observing Tuesday’s hearings was Chicago attorney Amir Akbar, who said he is representing Allen’s family, which has filed a civil suit in Cook County Circuit Court seeking unspecified damages from Allendale, Davis and Serak.
Defense attorney Robert Ritacca, who is representing Serak, said he attended a grievance hearing last week on Serak’s dismissal from Allendale. Ritacca said Allendale fired Serak for using his cellphone at work the day Allen died.
Ritacca said cellphone use is prohibited for Allendale employees while on duty unless they are contacting other employees. Ritacca said Serak used the phone to text a supervisor about Allen.
The grievance cannot proceed to the arbitration stage until the criminal case is resolved, Ritacca said.
Davis and Serak will be back in court June 3.
A July trial date is currently scheduled for both men, although Shanes and defense attorneys have indicated that date will almost certainly be delayed.
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