Lawyer wants judge from outside Lake County to hear escape charges
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com January 8, 2013 5:02PM
Keveen Fullwiley
Updated: February 10, 2013 5:58PM
The attorney representing the Zion convict who failed in a courtroom escape has asked for more time to seek an out-of-county judge to hear the case.
Keveen Fullwiley, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the aggravated battery charges stemming from the Nov. 29 incident. A jury came back with guilty verdicts to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of cannabis with intent to deliver. That’s when Fullwiley is alleged to have tried to flee from the courtroom and punched a deputy, who incurred injuries from the altercation.
“(The request) is based on our understanding that Judge (Christopher) Stride is a potential witness. Based on that alone, we feel it’s appropriate for an out-of-circuit judge,” Fullwiley’s lawyer, Kevin Malia said.
Stride was presiding over Fullwiley’s trial in which Fullwiley was convicted of possessing 135.8 grams of cocaine and 304.6 grams of marijuana.
Malia said Tuesday he wanted additional time to determine which courtrooms the injured deputy has been assigned to and which judges he had relationships with.
“He’s (the deputy) been in every courtroom in front of every judge,” Circuit Judge George Bridges said. “He has never been assigned to this courtroom. There are days he’s been in here. He’s probably been in every courtroom before every judge.”
Malia said this information was relevant because of the “appearance of impropriety or any bias the judge” may have.
Bridges set the matter over to Jan. 24. Fullwiley is being held at Lake County Jail without bond.
