Mokena Man Plotted To Have Judge, Police Officer Killed: Police

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena man jailed in Kendall County has been charged with solicitation of murder for hire and solicitation of murder in a plot to have a judge and police officer killed, according to a news release issued Monday by the Kendall County Sheriff's Office.

Michael S. Swift, 30, was awaiting trial on charges of murder and abuse of a corpse in LaSalle County when he approached inmates at the Kendall County Jail to try to hire someone for the planned murders, according to police. Kendall County Sheriff's detectives said they became aware of the plot in September.

The judge and police officer who were targeted were immediately alerted to the threats, police said. Police launched an investigation and began monitoring Swift. During the investigation, police said, Swift made arrangements with an undercover police officer to have the judge and police officer killed.

The Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Swift Nov. 23 with two counts of solicitation of murder for hire and two counts of solicitation of murder, all of which are Class X felonies.

Swift was being housed in Kendall County in connection with the April slaying of his ex-girlfriend, 21-year-old Grace Taylor, in her Ottawa apartment, according to multiple media reports. While the murder happened in LaSalle County, Swift was being held in Kendall County because Taylor's father is a LaSalle County Sheriff's Deputy, according to reports.

Swift's next court appearance in Kendall County is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2022. His next court appearance in LaSalle County is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2022.