OREGON – An Ogle County assistant prosecutor says she has not yet received a health evaluation report for a rural Dixon man who faces attempted murder charges in connection with the June 12 shooting of three police officers near Dixon.
Jonathon Gounaris, 32, is being held at the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford. He is charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possession of a weapon without a firearms permit. He pleaded not guilty on July 10.
Police allege Gounaris shot and killed three members of the Ogle County Sheriff's Office emergency response team after a three-hour standoff ensued when police tried to enter his home at 402 Wild Rice Lane in Lost Lake, a rural residential community 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 taken 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 upper torso. They were treated at KSB Hospital in Dixon and released later that evening.
The ERT is comprised of personnel from agencies such as the Sheriff's Office, the Oregon and Byron Police Departments, and SWAT paramedics from the Rochelle Fire Department.
Gounaris was also shot during the exchange of gunfire and 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 wearing a red inmate-issued jumpsuit, handcuffs and shackles. He was accompanied by three Winnebago County corrections officers and two Ogle County court clerks.
Ogle County Public Defender Kathleen Isley took over Gounaris' case after Public Defender William Gibbs resigned last week. Isley asked to schedule another status update so she has time to look into the case.
She reiterated some of Gibbs' previous arguments for Gounaris' release, saying he could be released under certain conditions, such as house arrest or psychiatric treatment.
Deputy District Attorney Heather Kruse disagreed, pointing to her previous arguments, in which she emphasized, among other things, the seriousness of the charges and the injuries sustained by police officers.
Kruse also pointed out that they had received a fitness report for Gounaris but had not received it.
At Gibbs' request, Roe issued an order for a physical condition evaluation on July 25. A physical condition evaluation determines whether a defendant is mentally competent to defend himself during a trial.
Jayne Braden, a court-appointed forensic and clinical psychologist from Sycamore, was assigned to conduct the investigation at the Winnebago County Jail.
Pursuant to the health evaluation order, Braden will submit a written report to the court within 30 days of the order being filed, including a diagnosis (if one is made) and an explanation of how that conclusion was reached. Saturday, August 24 was 30 days after July 25.
Isley said she would submit the report to the state before Gounaris' next court date.
Roe again denied the request for release, stating that “the conditions currently imposed are necessary.”
Gounaris' next court date is September 16 at 1:30 p.m.
