Moss and Ink’s ongoing coverage of criminal cases across LaSalle County and the surrounding Streator area. Each card links to our full reporting on that case. Cases are grouped by where they stand in the court process and updated as proceedings move forward.
Status key: CHARGED / PRETRIAL TRIAL CLOSED
Active & Charged
Charged — case pending
IL v. Malachi C. Hankins
Malachi C. Hankins, 19, of Streator, has two open cases filed October 6: a felony with two counts of aggravated fleeing, and a major traffic case with six counts. Next court dates: November 16 (traffic) and November 18 (felony), 2026.
Charged — case pending
IL v. Wesley P. Brewster
Wesley P. Brewster, 42, of Seneca, is charged with four counts of aggravated DUI/crash/death in connection with a July 15, 2026 offense. Charged September 25, indicted October 6. Next court date: October 22, 2026.
Charged — case pending
IL v. Brian G. Reinhart
A Marseilles man charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated domestic battery in a March 17, 2026 stabbing. He has pleaded not guilty and remains held without pretrial release. Next court date: status hearing November 13, 2026.
Charged — case pending
IL v. Karen L. Brennan
Former Northlawn Junior High principal arrested in May 2026 on a domestic battery charge in Oglesby; re-arrested July 14, 2026 on additional charges while out on pretrial release. Next court date: July 30, 2026.
Charged — arraignment pending
IL v. Daniel A. McMeen
Charged with six counts of sexual conduct with an animal in Streator, with an arraignment scheduled in summer 2026.
Charged — pretrial release denied
IL v. Christopher S. Hall
Christopher S. Hall, 33, of Streator faces five felony arson charges after multiple fires — including one at a church property — erupted across Streator on June 18–19. He remains in custody.
Charged — early court proceedings
IL v. Jeremy R. Vidergar
Jeremy R. Vidergar, 47, of Kangley, has been charged with domestic battery and aggravated assault following a reported stabbing on June 23, 2026. Released on GPS monitoring, which has since triggered alarms on two occasions (July 17 and July 22) now under review. Next court date: August 6, 2026.
CHARGED — PRETRIAL RELEASE
IL v. Jason E. Adams
Jason E. Adams, 45, of Earlville has been charged with domestic battery, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, and cruelty to an animal following an incident on June 28, 2026. Released on GPS electronic monitoring.
CHARGED — PRETRIAL RELEASE DENIED
IL v. Daniel K. Baskin
Daniel K. Baskin, of Peoria, has been charged with two counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Victim Under 13 following a July 16, 2026 incident in Streator. He remains in custody.
CHARGED — PRETRIAL RELEASE
IL v. Adrian S. Murphy
Adrian S. Murphy, 29, of Oswego, has been charged with felony and misdemeanor child exploitation offenses following his arrest in Streator on July 21, 2026. He was released pending further proceedings.
CHARGED — DETAINED
IL v. Kayden J. Danley & Dakota Sergeant
Kayden J. Danley, 19, of Streator, was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, unlawful possession of a firearm, endangering a child, and driving on a revoked license after a high-speed chase and multi-day manhunt near Streator. He remains in custody at the La Salle County Jail. Co-defendant Dakota Sergeant, 18, also of Streator, fled on foot into nearby cornfields and was captured Friday, July 24, following a multi-day manhunt; he was awaiting a court appearance as of the latest reports.
CHARGED — DETAINED (RELEASE VIOLATION)
IL v. Jackson B. Yeager
Jackson B. Yeager faces 10 felony counts, including five Class X child sexual abuse material charges, after a hidden camera was allegedly found in a family home. He was released on GPS-monitored pretrial release but was arrested July 28, 2026 for violating those conditions.
CHARGED — DETAINED (RELEASE VIOLATION)
IL v. Dylan A. Washkowiak
Dylan A. Washkowiak, 24, of Streator, was indicted on three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was rearrested July 31, 2026 for violating pretrial release conditions and remains in custody.
CHARGED — PRETRIAL
IL v. Tyler J. Moore
Tyler J. Moore, of Streator, faces three open felony cases and one open DUI case in LaSalle County, spanning drug delivery charges, aggravated battery of a peace officer, and aggravated domestic battery.
CHARGED — PRETRIAL RELEASE DENIED
IL v. Haed O. Samhan & Mahmoud B. Bazrouk
Haed O. Samhan, 45, of Harwood Heights, and Mahmoud B. Bazrouk, 41, of Norridge, were charged with Class X cannabis trafficking after ISP say they found nearly 5,900 pounds of cannabis hidden aboard a semi-truck during a September 4 traffic stop on I-80 in Peru — the largest bust of its kind in La Salle County history. Both are being held without bond.
INDICTED — ARRAIGNMENT PENDING
IL v. Anna M. Cervantes
Anna M. Cervantes, 66, of Ottawa, a longtime childcare worker at Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development, faces two felony counts of aggravated battery to a child under 13 after surveillance footage tied her to separate incidents. A grand jury indicted her September 8; she remains out on pretrial release under GPS monitoring.
CHARGED — MULTIPLE OPEN CASES
IL v. Tyler J. Moore
Tyler J. Moore, of Streator, faces three open felony cases and one open DUI case in La Salle County — drug delivery, aggravated battery of a peace officer, and aggravated domestic battery among the charges. Several cases share overlapping September 2026 hearing dates.
IN CUSTODY — PRETRIAL VIOLATION
IL v. Dylan A. Washkowiak
Dylan A. Washkowiak, 24, of Streator, was indicted on three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in case 2024CF000107. He was taken back into custody July 31 after violating pretrial release conditions; a hearing on sanctions or detainment is pending.
Heading to Trial
Indicted — awaiting jury trial
IL v. Douglas D. Blair
Indicted on one count of criminal sexual assault; ordered detained after GPS-release violations, with a jury trial set for September 2026.
Bench trial set
IL v. Phillips & Furar
Co-defendants Nicolaus J. Phillips and Chastity A. Furar face charges tied to a targeted 2023 Ottawa shooting; a bench trial is set with an expected self-defense claim.
Charged — awaiting trial
IL v. Ronald W. Martin Jr.
Charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, residential arson and unlawful weapon possession in the July 2025 shooting deaths of two Sheridan residents and a subsequent house fire.
Indicted — pre-trial proceedings ongoing
IL v. Joshua R. Casey
Charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death in the March 2025 death of 37-year-old Jessica M. Balma, found at a Streator residence.
Charged — awaiting plea hearing
IL v. Dexter C. Baker
A now-terminated LaSalle County sheriff’s deputy charged with 10 child-pornography-related felonies.
PLEA ENTERED — SENTENCING PENDING
IL v. Patricia D. Johnson
Patricia D. Johnson, of Chicago, entered a blind plea to two counts of criminal sexual assault involving a teenage girl in Streator. She awaits sentencing on October 1, 2026.
CONVICTED — SENTENCING PENDING
IL v. Muntean
Joshua N. Muntean, 50, of Sterling, was convicted at bench trial of aggravated DUI resulting in the death of a Leland woman in a 2023 I-80 crash near Marseilles. He awaits sentencing on November 24, 2026.
Resolved Cases
Closed
Closed Cases Archive
Cases we have covered that have reached a resolution — convictions, guilty pleas, and sentencings — are now collected in our Closed Cases Archive.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Case statuses reflect the most recent information available and are updated as proceedings progress. For corrections or tips, contact Moss and Ink.