Bail reduced 90% on 13 y/o warrant arrest

Last week McHenry County sheriff's deputies blew the dust off a 13-year-old warrant and probably spent much of the day driving 100 miles to Bourbonnais and back to arrest a 33-year-old Michelle Abbeduto.

How many on the Fugitive Apprehension Team went along? Were they assisted by cops from any other jurisdiction? She was found by "computerized records searches". Google?

Judge Condon yesterday chopped 90% off the bail that was set when she was arrested, but the paper doesn't report who set that original bail. If Abbeduto can post $1,500, she can go home.

The incidents leading to charges allegedly occurred in February 1996, when Abbeduto was 19 and the victim was 14.

Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Bora said (in court? to the reporter?) that the indictment was filed in a timely manner and within the statute of limitations, which ran until a year after the victim became 18.

If the victim was 14 in 1996, then she was 18 in 2000, and the statute would have expired in 2001. Since the warrant was issued in 1996, I am still trying to figure out what the comment about the statute of limitations has to do with anything.

Questions still remain in my mind:

- Is the victim still in the area?
- Is the victim still alive?

- Is the victim willing to testify?

- Is any other evidence still available and usable?

- Are any witnesses still available?

And the big question -

How many more warrants are there that are 10, 11, 12, 13 (or more) years old that are gathering dust at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department?

Warrant out for Philpott!!!

I was alerted this afternoon that a warrant has been issued for my arrest. All I can say is, it's a good thing I'm not in Woodstock!

You know that phrase, "You can run but you can't hide"? Well, I've already run, and I'm hiding now. (Actually, I like Greg Kachka's t-shirt language better, "Don't run. If you do, you'll only die tired.)

And get this! The bail is $800.00.

But I'm not to be arrested until April 14th at 4:00PM. And then I'll get one hour on the phone to raise $800, so that I can be released at 5:00PM.

What's it all about? This year's Muscular Dystrophy Association fund-raiser! Ha! Gotcha!

It's a good cause; when your phone rings, I hope you'll answer. This year's event is being held at Chili's in McHenry.

Like to participate? You might even get your picture taken with your own special shirt with black and white stripes and your own special number plate.

The food in that "jail" is going to be pretty good that day, too. To reserve your cell, please call Robin at (815) 229-1632.