An Ottawa man charged in an April 18 shooting at an Ottawa tavern (the victim survived) waived his right to a speedy trial Friday and will be tried later this summer.
B.J. Redmond, 23, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a motions hearing on three felony counts led by aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, both Class X felonies carrying six to 30 years in prison with no possibility of probation.
He was initially set for trial after Independence Day. However, Redmond and attorney Brad Popurella said in open court that they want additional time and that Redmond would forgo his speedy-trial rights.
Redmond will stand trial Aug. 24. A final pre-trial conference is set for Aug. 21.
Ottawa police were dispatched early on April 18 to the patio area of the Zeller Inn, where a subject brandished a firearm, fired it, and fled. The victim sustained a shot to the upper left torso.
In court records and in open court, prosecutors said multiple witnesses saw Redmond raise what two witnesses described as a small black handgun. A .380-caliber shell casing was recovered at the scene, prosecutors said.
The battery charge is subject to the state’s Truth-in-Sentencing Act, which requires certain felons to serve 85% of their prison term. Redmond is also charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony, carrying one to three years.