Aug. 26—OREGON — An Ogle County assistant state’s attorney says she has not yet received a fitness evaluation report for a Dixon man charged with attempted murder in connection with the June 12 shootings of three police officers near Dixon.
Jonathon Gounaris, 32, is being held in the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford on four counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a firearm without a firearms owner’s identification card. He pleaded not guilty July 10.
Police say Gounaris shot three members of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office emergency response team after a three-hour standoff when police tried to enter his home at 402 Wild Rice Lane in Lost Lake, a rural neighborhood east of Dixon.
[ Sheriff: Rural Dixon resident shoots 3 deputies after barricading himself in home at Lost Lake ]
Ogle County Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Ketter was shot in the face and flown by air ambulance to OSF Medical Center in Rockford, where he underwent surgery. He was released from the hospital on June 14.
Ogle County Sheriff’s Deputy Tad Dominski was shot in the arm and Tyler Carls of the Rochelle Fire Department was shot in the torso. They were treated at KSB Hospital in Dixon and released later that evening.
The ERT is made up of personnel from the sheriff’s office, the Oregon and Byron police departments, and SWAT medics from the Rochelle Fire Department.
Gounaris was also shot in the shooting and was taken to KSB Hospital in Dixon, where he was treated before being booked into the Winnebago County Jail on June 18.
On Monday, Gounaris appeared before Judge John “Ben” Roe in a red prisoner suit, complete with handcuffs and leg irons. He was accompanied by three Winnebago County jailers and two Ogle County deputy judges.
Ogle County Public Defender Kathleen Isley took over Gounaris’ case after Public Defender William Gibbs resigned last week. Isley requested a further status update so she could have time to review the case.
She reiterated some of Gibbs’ earlier arguments for Gounaris’ release, arguing that he could be released under certain conditions, such as house arrest or treatment for mental health issues.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Kruse disagreed, citing her previous arguments, which included the seriousness of the charges and the injuries to law enforcement officers.
Kruse also indicated that they would receive a fitness evaluation report for Gounaris, but they have not received it.
Roe filed a request for a fitness evaluation at Gibbs’ request on July 25. A fitness evaluation determines whether a defendant has the mental capacity to participate in his defense at trial.
Jayne Braden, a court-appointed forensic and clinical psychologist in Sycamore, was assigned to conduct the evaluation at the Winnebago County Jail.
According to the order for the fitness evaluation, Braden will — within 30 days of the date of the order file — file a written report with the court describing a diagnosis, if one is found, and an explanation of how that conclusion was reached. Saturday, August 24, was 30 days after July 25.
Isley said she would file the report with the state before Gounaris’ next court appearance.
Roe again denied the request for release, saying “the current conditions imposed are necessary.”
Gounaris’ next court appearance is on September 16 at 1:30 p.m.
