Defense Lawyers Want Judge Knocked Out of Mokena Coma Punch Case

Defense attorneys want the judge who found a New Lenox man guilty of punching another man into a coma outside a Mokena bar to step down.

Hours after a Will County Judge found a New Lenox man guilty of punching another man into a coma, she received an email from the state's attorney's office. Attached to the email was a statement from Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow about the case. The judge, Sarah Jones, said she never opened the attachment, but the lawyers for the New Lenox man awaiting sentencing for the fateful punch want her off the case anyway. "It's about the appearance to everyone in the county—it's about the appearance to the citizen's of Illinois," defense attorney Dave Carlson said as he argued Judge Jones should recuse herself from the case of Joseph Messina during a Thursday afternoon hearing at the Will County Courthouse. Messina, 24, was found …

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Email to Judge Means New Lenox Coma Puncher Needs New Trial: Lawyer

An email from the state's attorney's office to the judge in the New Lenox coma puncher case is enough to get the convicted man a new trial, according to court papers filed by defense lawyers.

On the day a New Lenox man was to be sentenced for punching another man into a coma outside a Mokena bar, the judge announced she received an email from the prosecutor's office. Even though Will County Judge Sarah Jones didn't read the email, lawyers for convicted coma-puncher Joseph Messina say that just the fact she got it means she should start a whole new trial and leave it to another judge to decide the case. Messina, 24, was found guilty in January of punching 29-year-old Eric Bartels of Joliet outside the Mokena bar 191 South in July 2009. The attack left Bartels in a coma. Messina was set to be sentenced March 6 but his attorneys, Dave Carlson and Ken Zelazo, instead argued for a new trial based on a lack of evidence, among other …

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Grab a Pint on the Cheap: St. Patrick's Day Drink Specials

Check out these holiday specials in Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox.

If you want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at your local pub this weekend, but don't want to overspend, check out these local bars that are offering holiday specials. The Wild Rover 20535 S. La Grange Rd., Frankfort Stop by Saturday or Sunday for $2 domestic bottles, $2 green beers and $4 pints of Guiness and Harp. The bar is also offering an Irish breakfast package from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, as well as corned beef sandwiches throughout the weekend. Tommy Nevin's Pub 9680 Lincolnway Ln., Frankfort The bar will offer $5 Irish car bombs and $3 Sam Adams on Friday. 191 South 10160 W. 191st St., Mokena Throughout the weekend, pints of Guinness Imperial will cost $4. The bar and grill will also serve corned beef and cabbage. Charleston's …

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Attorney For New Lenox Man in Coma Punch Case Argues For New Trial

The judge will decide next month if Joseph Messina, who was convicted of throwing the punch that put Eric Bartels of Joliet into a coma, will be tried again.

Lawyers for the New Lenox man convicted in January of punching a Joliet man into a coma outside a Mokena bar argued Wednesday that he should either be acquitted or get a new trial. Attorney Dave Carlson said there wasn't enough evidence for Joseph Messina, 24, to be found guilty of beating Eric Bartels outside the Mokena bar 191 South in July 2009. The attack left Bartels, 29, in a coma. Carlson pointed out that three key prosecution witnesses swore Messina was wearing shorts the night of the attack when he was actually wearing long pants. Carlson also claimed it was one of Messina's friends, Michael Glielmi, formerly of Manhattan, who punched Bartels, but that he was denied the opportunity to question Glielmi. Glielmi invoked his …

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Battle of the Bands for Budding Stars

Talented musicians and singers, the battle of the bands begins at 9 p.m. tonight at 191 South Restaurant.

Court Watch: Trial Begins for Man Accused of Punching Another into Coma

An attorney for teen accused of killing his parents leaves the case. Oak Lawn doctor accused of fondling prepared to go to trial.

The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. OAK LAWN — Rajat Prakash, an Advocate Christ Medical Center doctor accused of fondling a female patient in a semi-conscious state, returns to court on Aug. 1 for possibly the last time before trial. On Monday, defense attorney Nicholas Faklis said he was ready to proceed on a misdemeanor battery charge. Prosecutors asked for another pretrial hearing. In May, a second woman alleged that, on the pretext of reviewing medical information outside the hospital, Prakash fondled her and forced her hand on his penis in his SUV. That case returns before a felony judge on July 16. A civil investigation is also ongoing, according to an attorney who …

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What Should Go Here? Open Retail Space Next to 191 South

Should it be a bait shop, a bike shop, a mom and pop diner, or something else entirely? Patch wants to know what residents think should go next to 191 South.

What Should Go Here? Open Retail Space Next to 191 South

The Promenade of Mokena features several thriving businesses, but there is a lone storefront waiting for a business to move in. Patch wants to know: What Should Go Here?

Sandwiched between 191 South and El Cortez sits a vacant retail shop in The Promenade of Mokena strip mall. Other shops in The Promenade include NAWS, EggCetera, Planet Color Salon and more, but the only empty spots sits next to 191 South. Patch wants to know what readers think should fill the void. Should it be another resturant, a fishing shop, or maybe something else?  To inquire about leasing the space, contact Tim Tynan at ReMax via telephone at (708) 217-5435. While thinking about it, check out our other What Should Go Here posts from previous weeks and let us know! Patch wants to know: What do you think should go here? Be sure to tell us: What Should Go Here? Former Tony's Villa Rosa Pizza Location What Should Go Here? Mokena Mills …

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Feel Like Rockin' Out? Don't Miss Sunday's Show at 191 South

Get ready to have your socks rocked off. Mokena School of Rock's Performance Band will rock out in a show called, "Women That Rock" Sunday night. The show will feature music from Joan Jett, No Doubt, Heart and more.

School of Rock Ready to Roll at 191 South Show

Mark your calendars now, and get ready to have your socks rocked off. On May 19-20, the Mokena School of Rock's Performance Band will rock out in a show called, "Women That Rock." The show will feature music from Joan Jett, No Doubt, Heart and more.

Mokena's 191 South is going to be rocking and rolling May 19-20, as the School of Rock is set to crank its amps to the max and jam out with its Women That Rock Performance Band Show. The show, which will feature a rotating group of band members, will see the School of Rock's Performance Band jamming out to songs by bands like No Doubt, Joan Jett, Heart, Jefferson Airplane and more. “The place will be packed with friends, family and people we've invited,” said Lynn Gaby, Marketing Director for Mokena's School of Rock.  Gaby said that the band is made up of about 20 students from School of Rock, who all practice together at least once a week. She added that the students in the band are learning more than just music from their time together…

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