Home Burglary During Accused Abuser's Funeral Leads To Arrest

WILMETTE, IL — A Glenview teen is charged with residential burglary after arranging the burglary of a Wilmette home during the funeral of its former resident, authorities said.

Evan Cassier, 18, of the 600 block of Echo Lane, was arrested Wednesday morning and ordered held Thursday in lieu of the $2,500 cash portion of his bond in connection with the Aug. 5 burglary.

That afternoon, Cassier and two other burglars targeted the Wilmette home of a former Cook County sheriff's deputy who died while awaiting trial on more than a dozen felony sex crime charges, according to police and prosecutors.

At the time of the burglary, a neighbor noticed three male figures walking away from the home carrying bags, describing and later identifying Cassier in a photo lineup, authorities said.

After waiving his right to remain silent, Cassier told investigators that an unidentified friend had proposed the burglary, according to police.

Authorities said the teen also granted officers permission for a warrantless search of his home, where they found knives and brass knuckles that police said were stolen from the dead man's bedroom.

Police said Cassier called one of the residents, an acquaintance of his, before and after the funeral and burglary to check on their whereabouts. His alleged accomplices remain at large.

John Pradun, who died Aug. 1 at age 63, was accused of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, grooming, indecent solicitation of a child, exhibiting harmful material, possession of a controlled substance and 15 counts of possession of child pornography, according to court records. He retired from the sheriff's office in 2019 after 27 years there.

Related: Sex Abuse, Child Porn Charges Filed Against Ex-Deputy In Wilmette

Last year, after a parent of a student at a local high school reported overhearing a discussion of sexual abuse, investigators learned Pradun frequently hosted teen parties with underage drinking and illegal drug use and that he was commonly known by the nickname "Po-Po," Patch reported following his July 2020 arrest.

Cassier, who attends a different high school than the children Pradun was charged with abusing, lives with his mother and works at a Papa John's restaurant, according to his defense attorney.

Cassier's arrest came the same week as Pradun had been scheduled to appear in court to potentially plead guilty. During court appearances earlier this year, prosecutors and his attorneys met with judges privately to discuss the terms of a negotiated plea of guilty prior to his death.

No information about the planned plea deal was immediately available Friday from Pradun's former attorney and the Cook County State's Attorney's office.