Bob Hernandez Won't Get Out Of Jail Under SAFE-T-Act: Judge

JOLIET, IL — After taking multiple ambulance rides to St. Joe's hospital since his two separate felony arrests by Joliet's Police Department, Robert "Bob" Hernandez learned on Wednesday morning that he will remain in his Will County Jail cell block for an indefinite period of time.

Will County Sheriff's deputies assigned to the courthouse escorted the 62-year-old Hernandez into Courtroom 202, as Hernandez remained in handcuffs along with shackles attached to his waist and legs to prevent him from trying to escape.

Hernandez was wearing the Will County Jail's red-colored jumpsuit, which signifies that he is assigned to the medical ward of the jail. Because of the red-colored classification, if Hernandez says he needs more medical attention, he will see the jail's medical staff rather than go on more ambulance rides over to St. Joe's hospital.

The previous two court hearings for Hernandez — set for Feb. 16 and then re-set for Feb. 18 — were both postponed because Hernandez did not appear in court due to hospitalization, court files show.

During Wednesday's hearing that lasted at least 20 minutes, Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins rejected efforts by Hernandez's lawyer, Jeff Tomczak of The Tomczak Law Group, seeking pretrial release for his client.

The judge ruled that by clear and convincing evidence, Hernandez needed to be held in detention under the new SAFE-T-Act provisions, suggesting that releasing Hernandez could pose a danger to the Joliet community at large.

The judge pointed out that Hernandez was already out of custody on Valentine's Day for a previous crack cocaine possession charge when he got arrested a second time, on Feb. 14 by Joliet police.

As a result of the second arrest at Joliet's Fenton Motel on Jefferson Street, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow charged Hernandez with violating a stalking no-contact order and a new charge of possession of crack cocaine, plus possession of drug paraphernalia for having a glass drug-smoking pipe inside his new yellow Jeep, authorities said.

Judge DeWilkins informed Tomczak and everyone else in Courtroom 202 that Hernandez is also accused of driving by the Reed Street house where the stalking victims live on at least three occasions just on Feb. 10 — in spite of the fact that Hernandez had been served by Joliet police on Feb. 2 with the emergency order of protection.

The emergency order of protection was taken out by a Joliet parent on behalf of herself and her children, including a teenage boy and a teenage girl.

In late October, the 19-year-old male tried to take out his own protection order against Hernandez, declaring in Will County court records, "I am requesting an order of protection against Robert because I'm going through an addiction, and he enables me. I've had to do a lot of sexual favors for him and don't want to do that anymore. I was out of rehab for five days and Robert made me relapse."

During Wednesday's hearing, Will County prosecutors also informed Judge DeWilkins that Hernandez was previously arrested on felony burglary charges back in the 1980s, and that crime was reduced to a misdemeanor assault conviction.

Toward the end of Wednesday morning's hearing, after the judge already made his decision, Tomczak snapped at one of the assistant Will County State's Attorneys, saying, "It's not funny."

Judge DeWilkins then raised his voice at all the lawyers, declaring, "I don't want to hear anything from anyone."

In addition to Tomczak, who stood with Hernandez at the courtroom podium, the prosecution table included Tricia McKenna, Lauren Senko and Christopher Koch. Senko handled the courtroom arguments for Wednesday's detention hearing against Hernandez.

Joliet Patch Related Coverage:

Stalker Bob Hernandez Needs To Stay In Jail: Glasgow's Prosecutors

Ex-Joliet Housing Authority Commissioner Bob Hernandez Arrested