Citizens for Bob Berlin, Wheaton, IL (2026)

10/19/2026

On Friday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert “Bob” Berlin provided the keynote address at the It Ends With Us Movement Annual Gala at Empress Banquets. The It Ends With Us Movement provides various services to survivors of domestic violence. October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Berlin’s speech focused on the quantifiable progress that has been made in DuPage County combating domestic violence.

Some of these quantifiable changes include:

-A reduction in the number of misdemeanor domestic violence cases filed by the State's Attorney's Office.

-Creating a Domestic Violence Resource QR Code to unify resources and provide victims with a discrete tool to obtain help.

-Leading the State of Illinois in filing Fi****ms Restraining Orders.

-Expanding victim's access to filing Orders of Protection, including on weekends and after business hours.

-Creating a Domestic Violence Intake Unit to review all domestic violence cases and best prepare State's Attorneys to seek justice.

Thank you to the It Ends With Us Movement's founder, Dana Roppo, for her courageous example as a survivor of domestic violence, perseverance in creating this organization, and inviting State's Attorney Berlin to deliver the keynote address. Thank you to Maryanna Callas and Sean Noonan for Sheriff for emceeing the event. 💜

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/bob-berlin-gives-keynote-address-at-it-ends-with-us-domestic-violence-gala

10/17/2026

On Friday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that a Villa Park man has been sentenced to fifty-five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for the murder of his girlfriend, twenty-four-year-old Jessica Reyes, following a domestic altercation at his apartment. Anthony Jimenez, 28 (d.o.b. 2/27/1998) formerly of the 1600 block of S. Michigan Avenue, appeared at his sentencing hearing Thursday afternoon in front of Judge Mia McPherson, who handed down the sentence. On May 8, 2026, Jimenez voluntarily entered a plea of guilty to one count of First Degree Murder. On July 19, 2024, Jimenez appeared in First Appearance Court where Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain him pre-trial. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time.

During the incident, Jimenez told the 911 dispatcher “I stabbed my girlfriend in the neck.” Upon their arrival, officers were met at the door by Jimenez with blood on his hands and chest. Following an investigation into the murder, authorities learned that Jimenez and Reyes were at the apartment together and got into a verbal altercation. After a short time, Jessica left the apartment by climbing down the third-floor balcony to the parking lot, as Jimenez would not let her leave the apartment and was blocking the door. Jimenez then went to the parking lot and spoke with Reyes, and after the argument had calmed down, Reyes and Jimenez went back to the apartment together to allow Reyes to collect her belongings. Once back in the apartment, the argument ensued and as Reyes began collecting her belongings, Jimenez pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed Jessica in the side of her head. As Reyes fought back, Jimenez continued to stab her multiple times about her neck, face, arms, chest and hands and only stopped stabbing Reyes when his mother entered the room.

“October is domestic violence awareness month, and I think it is important that we remember that no one should have to live in fear of their husband, wife, significant other, or other family members,” Berlin said. “This tragic case is a stark reminder that domestic violence must never be tolerated or excused, as doing so could result in deadly consequences." 💜

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/villa-park-man-sentenced-to-fifty-five-years-for-murder-of-his-girlfriend

10/14/2026

On Tuesday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert "Bob" Berlin announced that Judge Joshua Dieden has granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago woman charged in connection with a shooting at the Oak Brook Mall late last month. The defendant appeared in First Appearance Court this morning charged with three counts of Attempt Armed Robbery, a Class 1 Felony.

On September 30, 2026 around noon, officers with the Oak Brook Police Department received a call of shots fired in one of the parking lots outside of the Oak Brook Mall. Officers located one victim with an apparent gunshot wound who was later pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers also found the defendant suffered an apparent gun shot wound as well. The defendant was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Following an investigation into the shooting, it is alleged that the driver of a black Mercedes had arranged with the defendant and two other individuals to go to the Oak Brook Mall to purchase four Swatch watches, priced at approximately $448 each plus tax, which were limited to one purchase per person. It is alleged that the driver of the Mercedes had brought $2,000 with him to purchase the watches. It is alleged that at approximately 12:01 p.m., the black Mercedes, with four occupants, including the defendant who was seated in the back driver’s side of the Mercedes, pulled into a parking stall. It is alleged that a short time later, a white Nissan Rogue, later determined to be driven by the sole occupant, Hill, pulled behind the Mercedes and blocked it in. It is further alleged that after blocking in the Mercedes, Hill exited the Rogue and approached the rear passenger side of the Mercedes, opened the door, pointed a gun at the car’s occupants and said, “give me all that s***”. It is alleged that the driver of the Mercedes exited the vehicle and began wrestling Hill for the gun at which point, the defendant jumped out of the back seat of the car and tried to help Hill as he wrestled the driver of the Mercedes for the gun. It is alleged that the driver of the Mercedes wrestled the gun away from Hill and discharged the gun, striking the defendant and Hill. Following the shooting, the victims fled the scene in the Mercedes and were located at the Oakbrook Terrace Police Department a short time later, while the defendant allegedly entered the Nissan that Hill had arrived in and briefly drove around the parking lot. Authorities took the defendant into custody at the scene where she received medical attention and was transported to an area hospital. While executing a search warrant on the Mercedes, officers located a Springfield 9 mm pistol. Officers also located 9 mm shell casings in the parking lot of the mall.

Following further investigation, it is alleged that prior to the incident, the defendant was messaging Hill information including appraising Hill of their location, telling him what type of car they were in, to block them in, and to take everything including the phones in the car. It is alleged that the defendant sent Hill a message at 11:54 a.m. stating, “Smavk his ass with the pipe n tell me turn the car off.” Additionally, it is further alleged that the defendant sent Hill two messages at approximately 12:05 p.m. stating, “Block car in decent,” and “Im help u get everything tho” and that after receiving these messages, Hill approached the Mercedes armed with a fi***rm, and announced a robbery. As the investigation determined Justin Hill and the defendant were committing armed robbery with a fi***rm, a forcible felony, the driver of the Mercedes is not being charged in the shooting because Illinois law authorizes the use of deadly force to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

“It is alleged that Ms. Jamerson, working in coordination with Mr. Hill, arranged to rob at gunpoint an innocent man of approximately two thousand dollars and two other innocent individuals of their personal property,” Berlin said. “Violent crime, by its very nature, is dangerous and unpredictable and when you engage in such activity, everyone involved, not just the intended victim, is put at risk, particularly when a fi***rm is involved. The Oak Brook Mall remains a top shopping and entertainment destination for many throughout the Chicagoland area and I assure the public that with the holiday shopping season just around the corner, law enforcement will be out in full force to ensure a safe, secure and enjoyable experience for shoppers, diners and all the visitors at the mall and surrounding areas."

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/court-grants-states-motion-to-deny-pre-trial-release-for-chicago-woman-charged-with-attempt-armed-robbery-in-oak-brook-mall-shooting-last-month

09/18/2026

On Wednesday, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert "Bob" Berlin announced that three juveniles, a fourteen-year-old female from Lombard and two twelve-year-old females from Addison, have been charged with threatening an Addison Junior High School. The juveniles all appeared in front of Judge Chantelle Porter during their respective court appearances and each was ordered to be placed on home detention with electronic monitoring. The Lombard juvenile is charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct - Transmit Threat to School Building, a Class 4 Felony. The two Addison juveniles have each been charged with two counts of Disorderly Conduct - Transmit Threat to School Building.

According to the State's Petitions filed in Juvenile Court against the Addison juveniles, on August 11, 2026, the two Addison juveniles created and shared with each other a video depicting themselves as cartoon figures "walking around a school, taking out ri**es, shooting students and then killing themselves." Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that the video contained a hand-written map showing the interior layout of Indian Trail Junior High School with the lunchroom, office, nurse and bathroom labeled and depicted the juveniles shooting in the hallway at drawn figures with the sounds of gunshots and screams. According to the Petition filed against the Lombard juvenile, approximately two weeks later, on August 29, the Lombard juvenile allegedly "transmitted a threat of violence, death or bodily harm directed at persons at Indian Trail Junior High School" via Snapchat and WhatsApp to one of the Addison juveniles "asking her about security measures at Indian Trail Junior High School" stating that "she was going to buy a gun when she was fifteen, that she would do a school shooting in 2030, and that when she turned 15 she would come to Indian Trail Junior High School and conduct a school shooting." The matter came to the attention of authorities after two students at one of the Addison juvenile’s school allegedly overheard the juvenile talking on the phone about the plot with the Lombard juvenile. The students courageously and immediately contacted the School Resource Officer. An investigation into the matter conducted by the Addison Police Department led to the three juveniles as the people allegedly involved in the threatening correspondence.

"With the school year just beginning, I want to remind everyone that school safety remains a top priority of my office," Bob Berlin stated. "My office takes any sign of potential violence, real or perceived, involving a school very seriously and anyone suspected of any such behavior will be investigated and charged accordingly. Today's charges will not only hold these juveniles accountable for their alleged actions but will also give our juvenile justice system the opportunity to get them the help they need to get on the right track."

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/three-juveniles-charged-with-threatening-addison-junior-high-school

08/27/2026

On Wednesday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert "Bob" Berlin announced that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a Villa Park man charged with sexually abusing a woman on the Illinois Prairie Path last week. The defendant appeared in First Appearance Court on Wednesday charged with one count of Aggravated Battery in a Public Place (Class 3 Felony) and one count of Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 4 Felony).

On August 20, 2026, at approximately 9:02 p.m., Elmhurst police officers responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported that she had been groped by a man on an electric scooter while she was on the Illinois Prairie Path near South York Street. Upon their arrival, officers made contact with the victim. Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that the victim was out for a run on the Prairie Path and at some point had lost her keys. It is alleged that when the woman was looking for her keys using the flashlight on her phone, a man, later identified as the defendant, drove an electric scooter toward her. It is alleged that the defendant then collided with the woman at which time he touched her ge****ls, tried to hug her and then fled westbound on the Prairie Path. Approximately ten minutes later, it is alleged that while still on his scooter, the defendant approached the woman from behind, grabbed her buttocks and then fled. Through the course of their investigation, authorities identified the defendant as a suspect in the matter. On August 25, 2026, at approximately 1:09 p.m., authorities located defendant in Melrose Park where he was taken into custody without incident.

“Law enforcement in DuPage County is 100% committed to the safety of our communities,” Berlin said. “The allegation that Mr. Ronces Ocampo approached an innocent woman who was alone on the Prairie Path, ran into her with his electric scooter and sexually abused her is very disturbing and will not be tolerated in DuPage County."

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/court-grants-states-motion-to-detain-villa-park-man-accused-of-groping-woman-on-the-illinois-prairie-path

08/19/2026

On Monday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert "Bob" Berlin and Representative Marti Deuter announced that two initiatives proposed in Berlin’s office’s 2026 legislative package have been signed into law. One of the new laws strengthens law enforcement’s ability to prosecute those charged with animal cruelty while the other enhances protections for the elderly or persons with a disability and changes the definition of “caregiver”. The initiatives, now known as Public Act 104-0644 (amended the Humane Care for Animals Act) and Public Act 104-0671 (amended part of the Criminal Code of 2012) both passed the General Assembly in May 2026 and were signed into law by Governor Pritzker. Both laws go into effect on January 1, 2027.

Both bills passed overwhelmingly with wide bipartisan support. Specifically, Public Act 104-0644 (amended the Humane Care for Animals Act), cleared the Illinois House by a 112-0 vote on May 21, 2026 and Public Act 104-0671 (amended part of the Criminal Code of 2012) cleared the Illinois House by a 98-1 vote on April 9, 2026.

“These new laws send a crystal-clear message that protecting our most vulnerable is the responsibility of each and every one of us,” Berlin said. “Our seniors and persons with a disability have the right to live a dignified, secure life, free from the worry of abuse or exploitation just as our companion animals deserve protection from those who would do them harm. I am very pleased that with support from the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker’s signature, we are now able to provide more support and protection to society’s most vulnerable.”

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/states-attorney-berlin-initiatives-protecting-seniors-and-animals-signed-into-law-by-governor

08/13/2026

On Wednesday, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert "Bob" Berlin announced that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Hanover Park man accused of attempting to rob an Uber driver at gunpoint. The defendant appeared in First Appearance Court on Tuesday afternoon charged with multiple single felony counts including: Attempt Armed Robbery with a Fi***rm (Class 1), Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Class 2), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3) and Aggravated Battery in a Public Place (Class 3).

During the evening of August 9, the defendant allegedly requested a ride via Uber. After getting into the victim's vehicle, the defendant allegedly began to argue with the victim. The argument escalated and the defendant allegedly pulled a handgun out and demanded the victim turn back, before demanding money from the victim. When the victim told the defendant he did not have any money, the defendant allegedly struck the victim in the head with the handgun. The victim pulled into a gas station and attempted to escape the defendant. The defendant allegedly threatened to shoot the victim before grabbing the victim's hand and causing the vehicle to strike another vehicle, a Nissan, in the gas station lot. After crashing the vehicle, it is alleged that the victim exited the car and the defendant chased the victim around the car two times before the victim was able to flee. It is further alleged that the defendant then approached the driver of the Nissan, reached for his waistband and said, “I got a gun.” It is alleged that the defendant and the driver of the Nissan got into a brief physical altercation during which the driver of the Nissan was able to disarm the defendant and toss the gun. It is further alleged that the defendant then fled the scene. Officers with the Hanover Park Police Department took the defendant into custody from his home a short time later. When canvassing the scene, the driver of the Nissan led officers to a location on Sunrise Lane where they recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm fi***rm.

“It is alleged that Mr. Phillips attempted to rob an innocent man at gunpoint who was just trying to earn an honest living,” Berlin said. “Ride-share drivers provide an invaluable service to thousands of people every day and it is our responsibility to ensure that they can safely do their job without worrying about their personal safety."

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/hanover-park-man-charged-with-attempting-to-rob-uber-driver-at-gunpoint

07/30/2026

On Wednesday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced that a man and woman were charged with multiple felonies including: Home Invasion – Causing Injury (Class X), Home Invasion While Armed with a Fi***rm (Class X), Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Class 4), Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – No FOID Card (Class 4). Each appeared in First Appearance Court this morning where Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for both defendants.

The alleged home invasion occurred on Monday, July 27, 2026, in unincorporated Naperville. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the resident had allegedly been pepper sprayed inside his apartment and that his three-year-old dog had been fatally shot during the incident. Patrol personnel immediately secured the scene, rendered aid, conducted an extensive neighborhood canvass, and began gathering evidence and witness information. Members of the Sheriff's Office Forensic Identification Unit and Animal Control also responded to assist with the investigation.

“The level of cruelty alleged in this case is heartbreaking and extremely disturbing,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “The unprovoked attack on the victim and subsequent shooting of his defenseless companion, as alleged against the defendants, shows a disturbing level of cruelty and disregard for both human and animal life and a shocking willingness to cause physical and emotional pain to others. In DuPage County we have zero tolerance for the type of behavior alleged in this case and we will prosecute the defendants to the fullest extent of the law."

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/court-grants-states-motion-to-detain-couple-accused-of-home-invasion-and-animal-cruelty

07/13/2026

On Tuesday, June 23, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert “Bob” Berlin appeared before the DuPage County Board to present a plan to create DuPage County’s first Digital Forensics Unit within the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Berlin’s presentation focused on “Digital Device Data” (DDD), which is contained on a variety of digital devices from smart phones and watches, to tablets, laptops, and more. Accordingly, DDD, when properly obtained pursuant to a search warrant, can be a crucial source of evidence in criminal investigations for law enforcement. However, the amount of DDD available for criminal investigations has increased faster than law enforcement’s capacity for retrieving, storing, and analyzing it. Digital forensics is the process of collecting, preserving, and analyzing DDD so that it can be used as reliable evidence in investigations and court proceedings.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the DuPage County Board unanimously voiced bipartisan support for the proposal.

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/dupage-county-board-unanimously-votes-to-allocate-funds-to-states-attorneys-digital-forensics-unit

07/10/2026

On Wednesday, Bob Berlin announced that the second of four men accused of robbing at gunpoint a Wheaton T-Mobile store in May 2022 has been sentenced to twenty-eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). Imari Paxton, 28 (d.o.b. 12/14/1997) formerly of Chicago, appeared at his sentencing hearing in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On April 28, 2026, Paxton entered a plea of guilty to one count of Armed Robbery with a Fi***rm, a Class X Felony. In exchange for his guilty plea, the State agreed to not recommend a sentence in excess of thirty-three years in the IDOC. Paxton has been held in custody at the DuPage County Jail since October 26, 2022, after Judge O’Connell granted the State’s motion to deny him bond.

The defendant, wearing a mask and gloves, and 2 co-offenders, while armed with a gun, entered the business and led employees to the back of the store. Once at the back of the store, one of the offenders pointed a handgun at the employees, took one of the employee’s key rings and opened the stock room that contained approximately twenty cell phones and one tablet. Additionally, the employees were ordered at gunpoint to open two safes containing merchandise and cash. While zip-tying the employees, the defendants threatened to kill them.

Previously on April 23, 2025, one of Paxton’s accomplices, Marcus Melton, 32 (d.o.b. 2/25/1994), formerly of Lafayette, Indiana, entered a plea of guilty to the same count and received a sentence of twenty-one years in the IDOC.

Full story: https://www.bobberlin.com/news/second-of-four-men-charged-with-robbing-wheaton-t-mobile-store-sentenced-to-28-years-in-the-illinois-department-of-corrections

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