Joliet Murder Defendant Gets Her Bail Cut In Half By Judge

JOLIET, IL — Paola Diaz, a 26-year-old Joliet woman charged with first-degree murder in the April 5 shooting death of 18-year-old Jwaun Jones, had her $1 million bail cut in half on Wednesday by Will County Judge Dave Carlson.

Prosecutors for the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow objected to lowering Diaz's bail. They asked the judge to keep her bail at $1 million.

After weighing arguments from both sides, Carlson opted to reduce Diaz's bail to $500,000. She now needs to come up with $50,000 cash, which is 10 percent, to regain her freedom.

Previously, she needed to come up with $100,000 cash, which is 10 percent of $1 million. Diaz has remained in the Will County Jail since the night of April 6.

She and 19-year-old Abraham Bibian III are each charged with first-degree murder, following a Joliet police investigation into the homicide on the city's near west side. The homicide occurred a short distance from the Cass Street Bridge over the Des Plaines River.

Jones was fatally shot while he was a backseat passenger in a vehicle near Western Avenue and North Bluff Street.

Joliet police detectives do not believe Jones was the intended target of the shooter.
Police reports reflect that Bibian aimed his rifle in the direction of the vehicle with several occupants, including Jones, who sat in the backseat.

During the homicide investigation, Joliet police detectives recovered the rifle believed to be used by Bibian during the slaying. The rifle was found inside the bedroom of Diaz, according to police reports.

Diaz lives in the 400 block of Joliet's Oneida Street.

As for Bibian, his bail remains at $1 million, and he resides in the Will County Jail as September draws to a close.

He is being represented by downtown Joliet criminal defense lawyer Charles Bretz in connection with his first-degree murder charges.

Diaz, on the other hand, has two private practice attorneys, Joliet attorney Paul Napoloski and Naperville attorney Garth Yore.

After Jones was shot around 8:20 p.m. that Sunday night, the driver of the car rushed the victim to Joliet's AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center where Jones died several hours later.

Diaz and Bibian were both arrested by Joliet police the day after the homicide.