IL - Andrew Freund, 5, Crystal Lake, 17 April 2019 *ARRESTS* *mother guilty* #5

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well they didn't stick with the children's services 4 employees in Los Angeles for Gabriel Fernandez.... :(

Maybe this is the beginning. The lack of accountability in DCFS is appalling. In the case of Nubia Barahona, the CPS worker spoke with the adoptive "Monster", and checked off that Nubia was "fine" during the "well check". When in fact, Nubia was already dead.

That sort of negligent behavior needs to be held to a higher standard than just firing a worker for "incompetence". It is criminal.

The fact that these two men did not even go to AJ's home environment, or follow up to check on this family, rises to criminal negligence. If they had any sense, they should settle and slunk back under their rocks.

It does bring up the issue that these "professionals" should have carried their own occupational insurance, I wonder if the state is picking up the tab for their defense, meaning that their agency is paying for their defense.
 
The charges could scare other child welfare workers when deciding how to treat abuse allegations, one expert said, but raise a legitimate question over how to hold people responsible for egregious cases of failing to protect vulnerable children.

Yes, I hope child welfare workers ARE scared by this action!!!!!!!!!!!! There should never be "Qualified Immunity" for any child welfare worker nation-wide.

Cases of endangerment, reckless conduct, or any other failure in duty to protect, should be investigated and prosecuted as necessary, JMO.

This case was unbearably painful to watch unfold, God forbid it ever happens to another child.
 
Tuesday, Sept. 15th:
*Request Extended Media Coverage Hearing (@ 9am CT) – IL – Andrew “AJ” Freund, Jr. (5) (reported missing April 17, 2018, Crystal Lake; found buried in shallow grave on April 24, 2019, near Woodstock) – only for *Andrew R. Polovin (48) arrested & charged (9/10/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond. (bonded out 9/11/20).
*Carlos J. Acosta (54) arrested & charged (9/10/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond (bonded out 9/10/20).
A pair of former child welfare employees who had prior contact with slain AJ Freund & his family were arrested Thursday, 9/10/20 on child endangerment charges. McHenry County Board member & former Illinois Dept. of Children Family Services employees Carlos Acosta, 54, was arrested & charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct. Also arrested was Acosta’s former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, on the same charges, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury approved the charges Thursday, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said.
9/10/20 Update: If the pair is unable to post bond overnight, they could make brief court appearances Friday morning, 9/11/20 at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, as is standard practice. Both men’s bonds were set at $20,000 each as of Thursday evening, jail records show. They each would need to post $2,000 bail to be released.
9/11/20 Update: Polovin: Bonded out Friday morning, so no hearing on 9/11/20. Request Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/15 & arraignment hearing on 9/17/20. Acosta: Bonded out Thursday night, so no hearing on 9/11/20. Request Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/17 & arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.
 
Polovin:

Previous Court Events
Date Room Event Type/Result Result
09/15/2020 MC REQUEST - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE ALLOWED - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE Judge

09/15/2020 302 REQUEST - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE CONTINUED - STATES MOTION

09/10/2020 GJ GRAND JURY ISSUANCE - WARRANT


Future Court Events
Sign up for Court Event Reminders
Date Time Room Event Type
09/17/2020 9:00 AM 302 ARRAIGNMENT

09/17/2020 9:00 AM 302 REQUEST - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE

link: 20CF000704 - Public Case Access
 
Wednesday, Sept. 16th:
*Status Hearing (@ 9am CT) – IL – Andrew “AJ” Freund, Jr. (5) (reported missing April 17, 2018, Crystal Lake; found buried in shallow grave on April 24, 2019, near Woodstock) – for *Andrew T. Freund, Sr. (60/now 61) “father” arrested (4/24/19), charged (4/25/19), indicted (5/9/19) & arraigned (5/10/19) with 5 counts of 1st degree murder, 3 counts of aggravated battery, 1 count of aggravated domestic battery, 1 count of failure to report death of child, 1 count of concealing a homicidal death (burying body), 1 count concealing death of a person, 1 count of circumstance of endangerment/death, 1 count abuse of corpse, 1 count of destroying evidence, 1 count of false info to LE, 2 counts of aggravated battery to child, 1 count of reckless conduct/great bodily harm, 1 count of unlawful restraint & 1 count of causing child to be endangered. Plead not guilty. $5M bond.
Waived Jury Trial for Bench trial will begin on 12/9/20 (3 days) if no plea deal is reached.
Court hearing from 4/25/19 thru 4/1/20 reference post #778 here:
Found Deceased - IL - Andrew Freund, 5, Crystal Lake, 17 April 2019 *ARRESTS* *mother guilty* #5

6/18/29 Update: Status hearing was continued due to COVID-19 to 7/30/20. 7/30/20 Update: Freund's appointed attorney, Special Public Defender Henry Sugden, told McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt he was having "pretty serious conversations" with prosecutors about reaching a potential negotiated plea. The attorney declined to say what 61-year-old Freund might be willing to plead guilty to or how much time he could receive. Sugden said he hopes to have the terms of any possible plea bargain worked out by Freund's Aug. 28 court date.
8/28/20 Update: Freund appeared in court Friday unshackled, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit & face mask. Freund is in negotiations for a possible plea deal that would sidestep a trial. McHenry County Assistant State's Attorney Randi Freese & Freund's appointed attorney, Henry Sugden, don't expect the case to go to trial. "I believe we will be able to resolve this on Sept. 16," Freese told the judge. If the case does make it to trial, it will begin Dec. 9 and could last about three days.
9/10/20 Update: A pair of former child welfare employees who had prior contact with slain AJ Freund & his family were arrested Thursday, 9/10/20 on child endangerment charges. McHenry County Board member & former Illinois Dept. of Children Family Services employees Carlos Acosta, 54, was arrested & charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct. Also arrested was Acosta’s former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, on the same charges, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury approved the charges Thursday, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said. If the pair is unable to post bond overnight, they could make brief court appearances Friday morning at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, as is standard practice. Both men’s bonds were set at $20,000 each as of Thursday evening, jail records show. They each would need to post $2,000 bail to be released.
*JoAnn D. Cunningham (35) – 12/5/19: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 7/17/20 to 35 years in prison & will have to serve 100% of her sentence before she is eligible for release. If released at the age of 72, she would be required to register as a person who has committed violence against children & also she will need to serve an additional 3 years of mandatory supervised released.
 
Acosta:

Previous Court Events
Date Room Event Type/Result Result
09/10/2020 GJ GRAND JURY ISSUANCE - WARRANT

Future Court Events

Date Time Room Event Type
09/24/2020 9:00 AM 302 ARRAIGNMENT

09/17/2020 9:00 AM 302 REQUEST - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE

link: 20CF000703 - Public Case Access



Freund:

Previous Court Events
Date Room Event Type/Result Result
09/16/2020 302 STATUS - TRIAL DATE SET - DATE FOR NEGOTIATED PLEA

Future Court Events
Date Time Room Event Type
12/09/2020 9:00 AM 302 TRIAL - BENCH

09/18/2020 1:30 PM 302 PLEA - NEGOTIATED

19CF000290 - Public Case Access



link: 19CF000290 - Public Case Access
 
Thursday, Sept. 17th:
*Request Extended Media Coverage Hearing (@ 9am CT) – IL – Andrew “AJ” Freund, Jr. (5) (reported missing April 17, 2018, Crystal Lake; found buried in shallow grave on April 24, 2019, near Woodstock) – only for *Carlos J. Acosta (54) arrested & charged (9/10/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond (bonded out 9/10/20).
*Andrew R. Polovin (48) arrested & charged (9/10/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond. (bonded out 9/11/20).
A pair of former child welfare employees who had prior contact with slain AJ Freund & his family were arrested Thursday, 9/10/20 on child endangerment charges. McHenry County Board member & former Illinois Dept. of Children Family Services employees Carlos Acosta, 54, was arrested & charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct. Also arrested was Acosta’s former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, on the same charges, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury approved the charges Thursday, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said.
9/10/20 Update: If the pair is unable to post bond overnight, they could make brief court appearances Friday morning, 9/11/20 at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, as is standard practice. Both men’s bonds were set at $20,000 each as of Thursday evening, jail records show. They each would need to post $2,000 bail to be released.
9/11/20 Update: Polovin: Bonded out Friday morning, so no hearing on 9/11/20. Request Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/15 & arraignment hearing on 9/17/20. Acosta: Bonded out Thursday night, so no hearing on 9/11/20. Request Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/17 & arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.
9/15/20 Update: Polovin: Request extended media coverage hearings rescheduled to 9/17/20 with arraignment hearing.


ALSO:
*Arraignment & Request Extended Media Coverage Hearings (@ 9am CT) – IL – Andrew “AJ” Freund, Jr. (5) (reported missing April 17, 2018, Crystal Lake; found buried in shallow grave on April 24, 2019, near Woodstock) – only for *Andrew R. Polovin (48) arrested & charged (9/10/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond. (bonded out 9/11/20).
*Carlos J. Acosta (54) arrested & charged (9/10/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond (bonded out 9/10/20).
A pair of former child welfare employees who had prior contact with slain AJ Freund & his family were arrested Thursday, 9/10/20 on child endangerment charges. McHenry County Board member & former Illinois Dept. of Children Family Services employees Carlos Acosta, 54, was arrested & charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct. Also arrested was Acosta’s former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, on the same charges, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury approved the charges Thursday, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said.
9/10/20 Update: If the pair is unable to post bond overnight, they could make brief court appearances Friday morning, 9/11/20 at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, as is standard practice. Both men’s bonds were set at $20,000 each as of Thursday evening, jail records show. They each would need to post $2,000 bail to be released.
9/11/20 Update: Polovin: Bonded out Friday morning, so no hearing on 9/11/20. Request Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/15 & arraignment hearing on 9/17/20. Acosta: Bonded out Thursday night, so no hearing on 9/11/20. Request Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/17 & arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.
9/15/20 Update: Polovin: Request extended media coverage hearings rescheduled to 9/17/20 with arraignment hearing.
 
Question for those of you more familiar with the legal process - if AF Sr. accepts a plea deal tomorrow, there will still be a sentencing hearing, right?

Not sure of that's any different from in JoAnn's case with her entering a blind plea.
 
Question for those of you more familiar with the legal process - if AF Sr. accepts a plea deal tomorrow, there will still be a sentencing hearing, right?

Not sure of that's any different from in JoAnn's case with her entering a blind plea.

Yes, there should be a sentencing date following his plea - if he does one. But sometimes - and very rarely - I've seen the Judge sentence them right away.
 
Acosta:

Previous Court Events
Date Room Event Type/Result Result
09/17/2020 302 REQUEST - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE CONTINUED - DEFENDANTS MOTION

Future Court Events
Date Time Room Event Type
09/24/2020 9:00 AM 302 ARRAIGNMENT

09/22/2020 9:00 AM 302 REQUEST - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE

link: 20CF000703 - Public Case Access


Polovin:

Previous Court Events
Date Room Event Type/Result Result
09/17/2020 302 ARRAIGNMENT DEMAND - JURY

09/17/2020 302 ARRAIGNMENT ENTERED - PROTECTIVE ORDER

09/17/2020 302 REQUEST-EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE ALLOWED


Future Court Events
Date Time Room Event Type
10/29/2020 9:00 AM 302 STATUS - TRIAL DATE

link: 20CF000704 - Public Case Access
 
Friday, Sept. 18th:
*Plea Hearing (@ 1:30pm CT) – IL – Andrew “AJ” Freund, Jr. (5) (reported missing April 17, 2018, Crystal Lake; found buried in shallow grave on April 24, 2019, near Woodstock) – for *Andrew T. Freund, Sr. (60/now 61) “father” arrested (4/24/19), charged (4/25/19), indicted (5/9/19) & arraigned (5/10/19) with 5 counts of 1st degree murder, 3 counts of aggravated battery, 1 count of aggravated domestic battery, 1 count of failure to report death of child, 1 count of concealing a homicidal death (burying body), 1 count concealing death of a person, 1 count of circumstance of endangerment/death, 1 count abuse of corpse, 1 count of destroying evidence, 1 count of false info to LE, 2 counts of aggravated battery to child, 1 count of reckless conduct/great bodily harm, 1 count of unlawful restraint & 1 count of causing child to be endangered. Plead not guilty. $5M bond.
Waived Jury Trial for Bench trial will begin on 12/9/20 (3 days) if no plea deal is reached.
Court hearing from 4/25/19 thru 8/28/20 reference post #807 here:
Found Deceased - IL - Andrew Freund, 5, Crystal Lake, 17 April 2019 *ARRESTS* *mother guilty* #5

9/10/20 Update: A pair of former child welfare employees who had prior contact with slain AJ Freund & his family were arrested Thursday, 9/10/20 on child endangerment charges. McHenry County Board member & former Illinois Dept. of Children Family Services employees Carlos Acosta, 54, was arrested & charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct. Also arrested was Acosta’s former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, on the same charges, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury approved the charges Thursday, McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said. If the pair is unable to post bond overnight, they could make brief court appearances Friday morning at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, as is standard practice. Both men’s bonds were set at $20,000 each as of Thursday evening, jail records show. They each would need to post $2,000 bail to be released. Status hearing on 9/16/20.
9/16/20 Update: Date set for negotiated plea hearing on 9/18/20.
*JoAnn D. Cunningham (35) – 12/5/19: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 7/17/20 to 35 years in prison & will have to serve 100% of her sentence before she is eligible for release. If released at the age of 72, she would be required to register as a person who has committed violence against children & also she will need to serve an additional 3 years of mandatory supervised released.
*Andrew R. Polovin (48) (McHenry County Board member & Acosta's former supervisor) – Arraignment Status hearing/Set trial date on 10/29/20.
*Carlos J. Acosta (54) (former Illinois Dept. of Children Family Services employee) – Extended Media Coverage hearing on 9/22/20. Arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.
 
So.... any plea yet?

Is AJ getting justice today?
aj-freund.jpg
 
Oh no. It looks like he only got a total of 30 yrs on three charges with the plea deal. I guess they didn't feel he deserved more time than JC.

Count 25 - Indictment Count 1
720-5/12-3.05(B)(1)
Chg Dt: 03/04/2019 AGG BTRY/CHILD <13/PERM DISABL
STATE-ACTUAL-ADDED CHARGE CLASS X FELONY Disp: 09/18/2020
JUDGMENT - CONVICTION / GUILTY - NEGOTIATED
Sentence(s)
Date
09/18/2020 Type
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Amount
11 YEAR(S) Status
CONSECUTIVE
09/18/2020 COSTS $799.00 IN FORCE
Count 26 - Indictment Count 2
720-5/9-3(A)
Chg Dt: 04/14/2019 INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
STATE-ACTUAL-ADDED CHARGE CLASS 3 FELONY Disp: 09/18/2020
JUDGMENT - CONVICTION / GUILTY - NEGOTIATED
Sentence(s)
Date
09/18/2020 Type
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Amount
14 YEAR(S) Status
CONSECUTIVE
09/18/2020 COSTS IN FORCE
Count 27 - Indictment Count 3
720-5/9-3.4(A)
Chg Dt: 04/15/2019 CONCEAL HOMICIDAL DEATH
STATE-ACTUAL-ADDED CHARGE CLASS 3 FELONY Disp: 09/18/2020
JUDGMENT - CONVICTION / GUILTY - NEGOTIATED
Sentence(s)
Date
09/18/2020 Type
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Amount
5 YEAR(S) Status
CONSECUTIVE
09/18/2020 COSTS IN FORCE
 
AJ Freund's father pleads guilty, sentenced to maximum 30 years | Northwest Herald
AJ Freund's father pleads guilty, sentenced to maximum 30 years

After 17 months of denying before a McHenry County judge any involvement in the death of his five-year-old son AJ Freund, Andrew Freund pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated battery to a child, involuntary manslaughter and concealment of a homicidal death.

As part of the plea deal struck between prosecutors and the 61-year-old Crystal Lake man, Freund agreed to plead guilty to the three charges and will spend at least 18 years in prison, 30 years if the sentences handed down Friday are served in full.

The sentences approved by Judge Robert Wilbrandt include 11 years in prison for aggravated battery to child, 85% of which must be served under the state's truth-in-sentencing laws; 14 years for involuntary manslaughter, 50% of which must be served; and 5 years for concealment of a homicidal death, of which 50% must be served, Wilbrandt said.

Wilbrandt said the sentences would be served consecutively "for the protection of the public."
 
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