Heroin Defendant Considers Guilty Plea

One of three defendants arrested Nov. 26 by Bannockburn Police for possession of heroin is considering a guilty plea, according to a statement made by his attorney Tuesday in Lake County Criminal Court in Waukegan.

John Bergner, 54, of Northlake, who remains in Lake County Jail unable to post the $2,500 cash portion of a $25,000 bond, appeared before Judge Raymond Collins today for a hearing on the status of his bail conditions.

Earlier: Police Arrest Three for Heroin Possession

“He is considering a guilty plea and did not complete all the information (for bond reduction),” Cynthia Pruim-Haran, Bergner’s lawyer, said. Collins continued the case until 1:30 p.m. Dec. 11. At that time, Bergner may or may not enter a plea.

Bergner is accused of retail theft and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies, along with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a Bannockburn Police report.

A second defendant, Stanley Rabenda of Chicago, who remains in Lake County Jail unable to post the $5,000 cash portion of a $50,000 bond, was also in court Tuesday. No change was made to his current bail status.

“Because of his past criminal record no change should be made,” Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Ken Lorenz said to Collins. “We also believe he is a flight risk.”

Pruim-Haran did not object. “There is no amount of money he can post,” she told Collins. Rabenda returns to court at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 18. He is charged with retail theft and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies, along with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a Bannockburn Police report.

The third defendant, Aaron Travis of Vernon Hills, will not appear in court until Dec. 14. He remains in Lake County Jail unable to post the $10,000 cash portion of a $100,000 bond.

Travis is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, as well as misdemeanor claims of retail theft, driving under the influence of drugs, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and disobeying a stop sign, according to a Bannockburn Police report.

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