Ex-Salem Village Murder Defendant Freed From Will County Jail

JOLIET — William Paschall remained locked up in the Will County Jail since his arrest on first-degree murder charges from the Joliet police on Nov. 18, but the 71-year-old former Salem Village resident is now back in Joliet, thanks to Tuesday's ruling from the Appellate Court of Illinois for the Third District.

Justice Lance Peterson delivered the judgment for the court and Justices William Holdridge and Linda Davenport agreed in the judgment surrounding the Joliet man who had remained in the Will County Jail, against his wishes, for the past five months, surrounding the death of fellow Salem Village resident Michael Pappas, who was in his 60s.

As a result of the appeal court ruling, Paschall was let out of the Will County Jail after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, jail logs show.

According to Tuesday's ruling, Paschall was originally charged on Nov. 19 with four counts of first-degree murder and the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed a petition to deny pretrial release, alleging that Paschall committed a forcible felony and his release to the community posed a real and present threat to the safety of everyone.

"The factual basis provided that defendant and Michael Pappas got into a physical altercation in the nursing home where they both lived," the Third District court of appeals stated. "Pappas was in the laundry room when defendant entered in his wheelchair. Defendant punched Pappas in the head and used Pappas' walker to strike him. Pappas began exhibiting seizure-like symptoms and ultimately died."

According to the third district court of appeals. Paschall was 71 and lived at Salem Village for the seven months. He had no prior criminal history and scored a 0 out of 14 points in the risk assessment.

On Dec. 1, prosecutors for Glasgow filed an amended petition to deny Paschall's pretrial release, this time charging him with two counts of aggravated battery, the court of appeals noted.

"On appeal, defendant solely argues that he was not charged with a detainable offense," three appeals judges agreed. "Everyone charged with an offense is eligible for pretrial release, which may only be denied in certain situations ... defendant was not charged with a detainable offense. The State chose to charge defendant with aggravated battery based on the status of the victim as a person over 60 years of age. He was not charged with aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement.

"Therefore, he was not charged with a detainable, offense and the court erred in continuing to detain him. We remand for the court to release defendant with any conditions it deems necessary."

Lastly, Appeals Court Justice Peterson declared, "the judgment of the Circuit Court of Will County is reversed and remanded."