Trial date moved to May for Ware, Ill., woman accused in 4-year-old's death

JONESBORO, Ill. ­-- The Ware, Ill., woman who was set to stand trial next week on charges linked to the death of her boyfriend's 4-year-old son had her trial date moved to May.

Sacha Brown, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery and concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the Dec. 11 death of 4-year-old Justin Hepburn. She pleaded not guilty Jan. 11 and was set to go to trial Monday per an Illinois statute that dictates that a person in custody is entitled to a trial within 120 days of being arrested.

At a pretrial conference Wednesday, Brown's attorney, Larry Karaker, asked Judge William Thurston for the case to be continued so he could better prepare for the trial. Thurston granted the continuance and moved the trial date to May 14.

The continuance will not count against the 120 days set forth in the speedy trial statute, Thurston said. By Thurston's unofficial count, 88 days have passed since Brown was taken into custody.

Karaker said after the hearing that he needs to review more than 40 videos and audiotapes to adequately defend Brown. Dr. George Nichols, the forensic pathologist Karaker hired as an expert witness, also needs more time to review evidence, Karaker said.

"We still have a long way to go," Karaker said.

Almost all murder trials are continued when Illinois' speedy trial statute is in effect, Karaker said.

"It's very difficult to bring any case to trial in 120 days," he said.

Karaker is also having trouble rounding up key witnesses to the child's death. The scene's first responders have been unwilling to talk to Karaker despite Union County State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds calling the emergency medical technicians and their supervisors and asking them to cooperate.

"The supervisors will not allow EMTs to talk because of a possible HIPAA violation," Karaker told Thurston. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is a standard that protects the privacy of U.S. citizens' health records.

Karaker said he may file a motion that would require the first responders to testify "pursuant to the HIPAA statute." Thurston said the matter will be discussed at the next hearing, which is March 14.

"Their testimony is crucial to our case," Karaker said.

Brown's family may make her $250,000 bail in the coming weeks, Karaker told Thurston. If she gets out on bail, Brown will be confined to her home and forced to wear an ankle bracelet.

Her bail was originally $750,000, but was almost immediately reduced to $400,000. At a hearing Feb. 29, Brown's bail was reduced to $250,000. Brown's bail has a 10 percent cash provision, meaning that someone can supply 10 percent of her total bail in cash and she will be released under supervision. Reducing the bail to $250,000 means $25,000 would be required to get Brown released from jail.

psullivan@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Jonesboro, IL

Ware, IL