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

[Niner]

Friday, August 25th:
*Status Hearing (re Trial Date) for both (@ 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) – *Carlos J. Acosta (54/now 56) arrested, charged & indicted (9/10/20) & arraigned (9/24/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond (bonded out 9/10/20). Plead not guilty. Balance due: $2K bond.
Bench Trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
Case & Court info from 9/10/20 thru 4/26/23 reference post #977 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...l-2019-arrests-mother-guilty-5.441968/page-49
6/22/23 Update: Per defendant's motion hearing was continued. Waiver jury. Notice of filing. Next status/trial date hearing on 8/3/23 @ 9am. Trial on 9/11/23 with no further dates. 6/30/23: Order.
7/12/23: Certificate-mailing by clerk. 7/24/23: Waiver-jury trial. Supplemental to discovery answer. 7/27/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. 7/31/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. Next status/trial date hearing on 8/25/23. Bench trial still set to begin on 9/11/23.
*Andrew R. Polovin (48/now 50) arrested, charged & indicted (9/10/20) & arraigned (9/17/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. Plead not guilty. $20K bond. (bonded out 9/11/20).
Trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
Case & Court info from 9/10/20 thru 4/26/23 reference post #977 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...l-2019-arrests-mother-guilty-5.441968/page-49
6/22/23 Update: Per defendant's motion hearing was continued. Next status/trial date hearing on 8/3/23 @ 9am. 6/30/23: Order.
7/12/23: Certificate-mailing by clerk. 7/24/23L Supplemental to discovery answer. 7/27/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. 7/31/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. Next status/trial set hearing on 8/25/23 & bench trial still set to begin on 9/11/23.
*JoAnn D. Cunningham (35/38 when sentenced/now 40) – 12/5/19: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 7/17/20 to 35 years in prison. Post conviction petition hearing on 6/1/22. Post conviction petition denied/dismissed.
*Andrew T. Freund, Sr. (60/63 when sentenced/now 65) – 9/18/20: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 9/18/20 to 30 years in prison. Will help prosecutors with case against welfare workers. On Jan. 21, the ARDC announced Andrew T. Freund, licensed as an attorney since 1984, had been disbarred after being convicted last year of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery of a child & concealment of a homicidal death.

 

[Niner]

for both:

Documents
Filed Type Description
08/18/2023 ANSSD ANSWER - SUPPLEMENTAL TO DISCOVERY

08/15/2023 CERMC CERTIFICATE - MAILING BY CLERK
08/15/2023 ORD ORDER

Future Court Events

Date Time Room Event Type Judge
09/11/2023 9:30 AM 365 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

09/05/2023 10:00 AM 365 HEARING STRICKLAND
09/05/2023 10:00 AM 365 STATUS - TRIAL DATE - FINAL STRICKLAND

link: 2020CF000703 - Public Case Access

 

[AgeofAquaruis]

for both:

Documents
Filed Type Description
08/18/2023 ANSSD ANSWER - SUPPLEMENTAL TO DISCOVERY

08/15/2023 CERMC CERTIFICATE - MAILING BY CLERK
08/15/2023 ORD ORDER

Future Court Events

Date Time Room Event Type Judge
09/11/2023 9:30 AM 365 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

09/05/2023 10:00 AM 365 HEARING STRICKLAND
09/05/2023 10:00 AM 365 STATUS - TRIAL DATE - FINAL STRICKLAND

link: 2020CF000703 - Public Case Access

Get Him.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, Sept. 5th:
*Status Hearing for both (@ 10am 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) – *Carlos J. Acosta (54/now 57) arrested, charged & indicted (9/10/20) & arraigned (9/24/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond (bonded out 9/10/20). Plead not guilty. Balance due: $2K bond.
Bench Trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
Case & Court info from 9/10/20 thru 7/27/23 reference post #981 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...l-2019-arrests-mother-guilty-5.441968/page-50
7/31/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. Next status/trial date hearing on 8/25/23. Bench trial still set to begin on 9/11/23. 8/25/23 Update: Next status hearing on 9/5/23 @ 10am.
*Andrew R. Polovin (48/now 51) arrested, charged & indicted (9/10/20) & arraigned (9/17/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. Plead not guilty. $20K bond. (bonded out 9/11/20).
Bench Trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
Case & Court info from 9/10/20 thru 7/27/23 reference post #981 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...l-2019-arrests-mother-guilty-5.441968/page-50
7/31/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. Next status/trial set hearing on 8/25/23 & bench trial still set to begin on 9/11/23. 8/25/23 Update: Next status hearing on 9/5/23 @ 10am.
*JoAnn D. Cunningham (35/38 when sentenced/now 40) – 12/5/19: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 7/17/20 to 35 years in prison. Post conviction petition hearing on 6/1/22. Post conviction petition denied/dismissed.
*Andrew T. Freund, Sr. (60/63 when sentenced/now 65) – 9/18/20: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 9/18/20 to 30 years in prison. Will help prosecutors with case against welfare workers. On Jan. 21, the ARDC announced Andrew T. Freund, licensed as an attorney since 1984, had been disbarred after being convicted last year of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery of a child & concealment of a homicidal death.

 

[Niner]

@shotgun09 - for some reason I can not access the court site today - I am just wondering IF they still have their Bench trials starting on 9/11/23 - or has that been cancelled (again?)

TIA if you can help me!

 

[Niner]

Court site let me in today!

Acosta & Polovin

Filed Type Description
09/05/2023 NOTF NOTICE - FILING

09/05/2023 OBJEMC OBJECTION - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE

09/05/2023 OBJEMC OBJECTION - EXTENDED MEDIA COVERAGE

Future Court Events
Date Time Room Event Type Judge
09/11/2023 9:30 AM 365 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND


Link: 2020CF000703 - Public Case Access

 

[Niner]

for both


Future Court Events

Date Time Room Event Type Judge
09/15/2023 9:30 AM 204 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

09/14/2023 9:30 AM 204 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

09/13/2023 9:30 AM 204 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

09/12/2023 9:30 AM 204 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

09/11/2023 9:30 AM 204 TRIAL - BENCH STRICKLAND

link: 2020CF000704 - Public Case Access

 

[Niner]

Monday, Sept. 11th:
*Bench Trial set to begin for both (@ 9:30am 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) – *Carlos J. Acosta (54/now 57) arrested, charged & indicted (9/10/20) & arraigned (9/24/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. $20K bond (bonded out 9/10/20). Plead not guilty. Balance due: $2K bond.
Bench Trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
Case & Court info from 9/10/20 thru 7/27/23 reference post #981 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...l-2019-arrests-mother-guilty-5.441968/page-50
7/31/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. Next status/trial date hearing on 8/25/23. Bench trial still set to begin on 9/11/23. 8/25/23 Update: Next status hearing on 9/5/23 @ 10am.
9/5/23 Update: Objection-extended media coverage. Notice-filing. Next Bench trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
*Andrew R. Polovin (48/now 51) arrested, charged & indicted (9/10/20) & arraigned (9/17/20) with 2 felony counts of endangering the life of a child & 1 felony count of reckless conduct. Plead not guilty. $20K bond. (bonded out 9/11/20).
Bench Trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
Case & Court info from 9/10/20 thru 7/27/23 reference post #981 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...l-2019-arrests-mother-guilty-5.441968/page-50
7/31/23: Supplemental to discovery answer. Next status/trial set hearing on 8/25/23 & bench trial still set to begin on 9/11/23. 8/25/23 Update: Next status hearing on 9/5/23 @ 10am.
9/5/23 Update: Objection-extended media coverage. Notice-filing. Next Bench trial set to begin on 9/11/23.
*JoAnn D. Cunningham (35/38 when sentenced/now 40) – 12/5/19: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 7/17/20 to 35 years in prison. Post conviction petition hearing on 6/1/22. Post conviction petition denied/dismissed.
*Andrew T. Freund, Sr. (60/63 when sentenced/now 65) – 9/18/20: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 9/18/20 to 30 years in prison. Will help prosecutors with case against welfare workers. On Jan. 21, the ARDC announced Andrew T. Freund, licensed as an attorney since 1984, had been disbarred after being convicted last year of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery of a child & concealment of a homicidal death.

 

[JerseyGirl]

WATCH LIVE: AJ Freund DCFS trial begins

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former DCFS workers accused of reckless conduct related to the death of 5-year-old AJ Freund in April 2019 began on Monday. Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta…

wgntv.com

 

[Niner]

Bench trial begins for 2 former DCFS workers charged in AJ Freund case

Two former Illinois child welfare workers who investigated allegations of abuse involving a 5-year-old boy who was later beaten to death will face a bench trial this week.

www.nbcchicago.com

Sept. 11, 2023

Two former Illinois child welfare workers who investigated allegations of abuse involving a 5-year-old boy who was later beaten to death will face a bench trial this week.


Opening arguments have wrapped and prosecutors began calling witnesses Monday in a case that continues to impact McHenry County, northwest of Chicago, more than four years after AJ Freund's murder.
[.....]
Acosta worked at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in the months before Andrew “AJ” Freund’s body was found in a shallow grave near his family’s Crystal Lake home in April 2019, days after his parents reported him missing.


Polovin was Acosta's supervisor.


Both had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

and another - which lists the witnesses called.

Ex-DCFS workers in A.J. Freund case on trial in McHenry County

Carlos Acosta and Andrew Polovin were assigned to investigate the five-year-old's case.

www.cbsnews.com

Sept. 11, 2023
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (CBS) – More than four years after the horrific murder of 5-year-old A.J. Fruend resulted in the arrests and convictions of his parents, the former DCFS workers accused of mishandling the child's care were in court.
[.....]
In one incident, officers were at the home and observed a bruise on the boy. Prosecutors said Acosta failed to recognize the severity of the injury and moved forward to close the case, putting A.J. and his younger brother back into the care of their mother.

During emotional testimony, that officer recalled when she asked the boy about the bruise. She said she was troubled by the way the boy's mother prompted him to blame the family dog.

"I will tell you that when she leaned down to tell him what happened, all the hair on my arm stood up," said Crystal Lake police officer Kimberly Shipbaugh. "And I knew at that moment that I should've pulled him aside and asked him without her presence, but it caught me so off-guard when I saw it. I just asked him. So, I explained to Carlos about JoAnne's influence on A.J.'s response. I explained to him the intensity of the bruise. I explained that it was my belief that there was no way that the dog could've possibly done that to him."
[.....]
The judge in the bench trial also heard testimony from an emergency room doctor who treated A.J. in December 2018 for the bruises. She said A.J. was not in pain, but he indicated that Cunningham used a belt to strike him.

"I couldn't tell you what made the bruise or when it happened, but now I have information that he was giving me about a belt, about maybe his mom did it, and that to me was additional credible evidence that could be used to continue the protective custody," said Dr. Joellen Channon.
[.....]
he defense attempted to poke holes in the police reports where testimony from officers differed from what they documented when the reports were filed.

At the end of the first day, a retired administrator from DCFS was on the stand, and prosecutors attempted to use her testimony to show the defendants didn't follow protocols while investigating the case. That witness returns on Tuesday.

Day two of the trial continues Tuesday.

 

[Sillybilly]

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