Plainfield Area Defendant, 49, Too Dangerous For Jail Release: Judge

JOLIET — Will County Judge Donald DeWilkins has granted the Will County State's Attorney's Office request to keep 49-year-old Plainfield area criminal defendant Corey Sanford locked up in the Will County Jail following Sanford's latest arrest by the Joliet Police Department on charges of criminal trespass and domestic battery.

According to the prosecution's petition to deny pretrial release:

Joliet police were called to the 2100 block of Riverside Drive in the Plainfield area on Monday. At the scene, a 16-year-old told the officers that he was at a friend's house and returned home, leaving the door unlocked, and took a shower. The 16-year-old then went to his bedroom, where he saw the cell phone of Corey Sanford in his room.

The defendant's Lincoln Navigator was parked in front of the house.

The 16-year-old later found Sanford hiding in a closet in the basement and drinking alcohol, the complaint noted. Sanford then began chasing the 16-year-old throughout the house as the teenager called his mother, who then called 911.

The teen told Joliet police that Sanford punched him once in the chest with a closed fist.

Eventually, two of the neighbors came to the house, to help the 16-year-old in distress. Sanford's ex-wife arrived later and told Joliet police that Sanford is homeless and resides at the UNK church shelter in Addison.

While Sanford was permitted to go to the Plainfield area house for Thanksgiving at the 16-year-old's request, Sanford's ex-wife told police she did not permit him to come back to the house.

Sanford returned to her house uninvited at least twice prior to the incident from Monday, prosecutors noted.

On Monday, Joliet police indicated they found Sanford on the couch yelling, and he appeared intoxicated and agitated. He told the officers that his ex-wife had an open door policy, and he was welcome at the home anytime.

Sanford also told Joliet police he punched the 16-year-old boy in the face, causing his nose to bleed, prosecutors noted. Sanford was taken to the Joliet police station where he refused to speak the officers.

Will County prosecutors informed Judge DeWilkins that Sanford has previous domestic battery charges out of New Jersey from 2001 and 2000 that were dismissed and he was charged in Will County with domestic battery in December 2023.