A Joliet man faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of driving under the influence during a May accident near Ottawa that killed a woman.

Prosecutors allege he tossed a “brick” of cocaine out his car window, sped from the cops, “side-swiped” a truck and then fled on foot. That was too much for a judge Thursday to let Ruemy Duarte Castenada out of La Salle County Jail.

As La Salle County begins a new calendar year, a theme is emerging among the murder suspects: So far, nobody has pleaded guilty. Three were convicted in 2025 at trial and Joe Navarro anticipates having to bring the remaining suspects to trial.

A Mendota man said he shot in self-defense. Prosecutors said the Mendota incident was a drive-by shooting. A La Salle County jury will have to settle that.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday and returned the following indictments.

A Streator man who set fire to the New Brite Spot in Ottawa in 2023 was sentenced Monday to a pair of four years for violating his probation for arson and for theft.

A La Salle man faces up to five years in prison if convicted of damaging eight La Salle police squad cars and an officer’s personal vehicle.

A Mendota man accused of tossing a kilo of cocaine out his vehicle window after fleeing a traffic stop now is charged with trafficking. Ruemy Duarte Castenada will spend Christmas in custody.

A Mendota man is being held in La Salle County Jail for allegedly tossing a kilo of cocaine out his window as he sped from the cops, who caught him and then seized more cocaine at his home.