Evidence in fatal Highland Park crash barred from release
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com October 25, 2012 4:56PM
Carly Rousso
Updated: December 25, 2012 1:15AM
Evidence such as video surveillance and police reports from the fatal accident that took the life of a Highland Park 5-year-old on Labor Day will not be released to the public or the media until after the woman charged goes to trial.
That is due to an order signed Thursday by Lake County Circuit Court Judge James Booras after Assistant State’s Attorney Ken LaRue asked the judge to sign a protective order barring the release of evidence to the public in the case against Carly Rousso to the public.
“We’re just ensuring she gets a fair trial,” LaRue said at Rousso’s pretrial hearing. Defense attorney Douglas Zeit had no objection to the order and Booras signed it.
Thursday’s order is an extension of the judicial order already on file in Rousso’s case. The Sept. 17 order prohibits the release of “reports, videos and any other documents or photographs related to” the Rousso case.
The Highland Park Police Department, Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team and Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office are prohibited from disclosing information to “outside parties,” the Sept. 17 order states.
Rousso has pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide and aggravated DUI charges for the death of Jaclyn Santos, 5. Authorities allege that Rousso, 18, was under the influence of difluorethane when she drove onto a sidewalk in Highland Park and ran over Jaclyn.
The Santos family is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 against Rousso in a wrongful death lawsuit pending in Lake County. A similar protective order barring the release of evidence is in place in the wrongful death lawsuit.
Rousso is due back in court Dec. 13. Her trial is scheduled for Feb. 1. She is free on 10 percent of $500,000 bond.
