Teh One Who Knocks
03-21-2011, 04:48 PM
By Brian L. Cox Special to the Chicago Tribune
Despite objections from prosecutors, a Northbrook teenager who was charged late last year with threatening to blow up two north suburban schools will be allowed to play in a basketball tournament this weekend.
Ryan Ricco, 18, of the 3500 block of Whisperwoods Court, faces felony charges related to allegations that, on Dec. 8, he sent a message on Facebook to a female student at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, saying he was going to bomb that or school or walk into Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook with a bomb. Ricco was arrested the same day after the girl’s mother reported the message to Glenview police.
Ricco has pleaded not guilty and is free on $250,000 bond. As part of the conditions of his bond, Ricco was also placed on electronic monitoring, which only allows the teenager to leave home to attend Camelot School in Des Plaines.
But during a status hearing in the case at the Skokie courthouse on Thursday, defense attorney Steven Weinberg asked Judge Garritt Howard to change the conditions of Ricco’s bond to allow Ricco to play for Camelot in a basketball tournament at Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights this weekend, Cook County State’s Attorney Spokesperson Andy Conklin said Friday.
“The defendant requested to have the terms of his bond modified to allow him to attend a basketball tournament, and the judge granted his request over our objections,” Conklin said.
At the time of Ricco’s arrest, authorities said they found fireworks that had been taped together, and Ricco was also charged with possessing illegally fireworks. Police said the fireworks were not considered powerful enough to warrant a felony fireworks charge.
Despite objections from prosecutors, a Northbrook teenager who was charged late last year with threatening to blow up two north suburban schools will be allowed to play in a basketball tournament this weekend.
Ryan Ricco, 18, of the 3500 block of Whisperwoods Court, faces felony charges related to allegations that, on Dec. 8, he sent a message on Facebook to a female student at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, saying he was going to bomb that or school or walk into Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook with a bomb. Ricco was arrested the same day after the girl’s mother reported the message to Glenview police.
Ricco has pleaded not guilty and is free on $250,000 bond. As part of the conditions of his bond, Ricco was also placed on electronic monitoring, which only allows the teenager to leave home to attend Camelot School in Des Plaines.
But during a status hearing in the case at the Skokie courthouse on Thursday, defense attorney Steven Weinberg asked Judge Garritt Howard to change the conditions of Ricco’s bond to allow Ricco to play for Camelot in a basketball tournament at Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights this weekend, Cook County State’s Attorney Spokesperson Andy Conklin said Friday.
“The defendant requested to have the terms of his bond modified to allow him to attend a basketball tournament, and the judge granted his request over our objections,” Conklin said.
At the time of Ricco’s arrest, authorities said they found fireworks that had been taped together, and Ricco was also charged with possessing illegally fireworks. Police said the fireworks were not considered powerful enough to warrant a felony fireworks charge.