Contempt charge withdrawn, attorney resumes case
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com March 7, 2013 7:22PM
Updated: April 9, 2013 11:27AM
Last month, defense attorney Robert Ritacca found himself in contempt of court after a heated exchange with Lake County Circuit Court Judge James Booras.
He was handcuffed and searched by Lake County sheriff’s deputies, but was not booked into jail, Ritacca said. This week, Booras withdrew the contempt order against Ritacca, according to court documents. In addition, the $1,000 fine for contempt has since been returned to him, Ritacca said.
Ritacca also said all his pending cases before Booras have been reassigned to other judges.
A new bond review hearing Thursday in front of a different judge resulted in less dramatic proceedings.
The hearing, for Cesar Cuevas Wence, 28, pertained to drug charges. Police found 2.81 grams of cocaine on Wence Nov. 16, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Wence has also been free from custody for about a week after posting 10 percent of $75,000 bond.
At the hearing, Ritacca asked Judge George Bridges to release some of the bond money for attorney’s fees, which the judge granted.
“Make sure he complies with pretrial bond supervision,” Bridges told Ritacca.
Prosecuting attorney Scott Turk said he was working with Ritacca on a possible plea deal on Wence’s cas. “We just started negotiating,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be tendering an offer.”
Wence is due back in court March 22. His trial begins April 1.
