Crime & Safety
Joliet Man's Murder Conviction Tossed, Heading Back to Town For 3rd Trial
The judge messed up when she refused to let the alleged murderer represent himself, according to an appellate court ruling.
A Joliet man convicted of murder will get a third trial due to a judge wrongly denying his request to represent himself.
Jesse Bonds, 30, was found guilty of first-degree murder in May 2012 and sentenced to 83 years in prison. A previous trial ended in a hung jury, according to an opinion from the Illinois Appellate Court.
The appellate court is sending Bonds back to Joliet for a third trial because Will County Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes erred when she refused to allow him to act as his own attorney.
Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Bonds was charged in 2009 with the murder of Marcus Johnson. He has been locked up at Menard Correctional Center since November 2012 but will be returned to the Will County jail for his new trial.
Find out what's happening in Jolietfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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