41 court dates lead to $2,900 costs, 2 yrs. probation

The Northwest Herald reported early this afternoon that a 21-year-old McHenry man, Cody Ostick, agreed to a negotiated plea in a 3 1/2-year-old case against him. Ostick was originally charged with a Class 2 Felony (Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Victim younger than 13)), but that charge was amended to Class A misdemeanor battery. He was originally charged in July 2007.

According to the paper, "The victim's family was not very cooperative with the State's Attorney's Office, said Phil Hiscock, chief of the criminal division.

"'We have a young victim who we don't have any chance to ask any questions before she could testify,' Hiscock said. 'We felt [the negotiated plea] was the best alternative we had.'"

Ostick was fined a total of $2,971 in fines, costs and fees, sentenced to two years' problem with special conditions, and must receive counseling. Ostick's legal work was handled by the law firm of Donahue & Walsh.

A review of the online court records indicates that there have been 41 court dates. Today a "402 Conference" was held, a deal struck, plea entered, and sentence pronounced. What took so long???