The three men charged in the July 15 shooting of a well-known ice cream vendor appeared briefly in court Thursday to begin the process of going to trial for murder.
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<p align="justify">The three men charged in the July 15 shooting of a well-known ice cream vendor appeared briefly in court Thursday to begin the process of going to trial for murder.
<p align="justify">Family and friends of the victim, Isidro Duran, attended the arraignment hearing in Courtroom A of the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center. Family members of the defendants declined to comment.
<p align="justify">Adriana Duran, Isidro's daughter of McHenry County, said she wanted to honor her father's memory.
<p align="justify">"We're here to support the memory of my father so that other families do not suffer as we are suffering," she said.
<p align="justify">The defendants - Justin L. Dismuke and Michael C. Jennings, both 18, and Rafael E. Santos, 17 - are in the Winnebago County Jail on $1 million bond each.
<p align="justify">Each appeared with a different attorney - private attorney Patrick Braun for Jennings, Winnebago County Assistant Public Defender Kris Carpenter for Dismuke, and Assistant Public Defender Kathy McNeely-Johnson for Santos. Only Santos officially entered a not-guilty plea to Judge Gary Pumilia.
<p align="justify">At this time, the charges against the men are adjoined, meaning the five counts in the bill of indictment will proceed as one case unless the men seek to be tried separately.
<p align="justify">The men, their attorneys and Winnebago County prosecutor Bob Fuenty agreed to meet again Aug. 30. Fuenty said he would turn over the state's evidence in the case to the men's defense attorneys by late next week so parties can proceed with pretrial arguments.
<p align="justify">Duran, 47, of Chicago was killed July 15 while selling ice cream on Loomis Street to a man and his 2-year-old daughter. Duran traveled to Rockford almost every weekend in the summer to sell treats from a pushcart. He was well-known among area children and their families.
<p align="justify">Witnesses said Duran was shot in the back as he tried to flee from the three men who he thought were trying to rob him.
<p align="justify">Santos is the accused shooter. He faces three of the five counts: murder, murder while attempting robbery and murder while committing a robbery. If found guilty, he faces 20 to 60 years for the slaying and an additional 25 to natural life for the use of a firearm - the most prison time of the three.
<p align="justify">"He's a young, 17-year-old kid who is scared out of his wits and has no idea why he's here," McNeely-Johnson said. She said she hasn't seen any of the state's evidence.
<p align="justify">Santos' family members "are naturally upset and scared for their son and brother," she said.
<p align="justify">Santos also is being charged with criminal damage to government property for the flooding his jail cell July 26 by breaking a fire safety sprinkler. He's accused of causing more than $500 damage to his cell and the ceiling to the cell beneath his. He entered a not-guilty plea to that charge also.
<p align="justify">The other men face 20 to 60 years in prison if found guilty of the murder charge.
<p align="justify">Fuenty said he couldn't speak to the evidence in the case, including whether the murder weapon or any stolen money has been found.
<p align="justify">Julio Salgado of Latinos for Progress also attended Thursday's court appearance.
<p align="justify">"This killing touched the hearts of the Latino community," Salgado said. "He was a well-known individual here to accomplish his dream. People identified with him. Working, just like everyone else. Honest. He had the same goals of a lot of people - to advance their lives and better their families."
Espejo writer Betsy Lopez contributed to this report. Staff writer Corina Curry can be reached at 815-987-1395 or ccurry@rrstar.com.</font>