Experience
Major Cases
People vs. Joann Cunningham and Andrew Freund—GUILTY of the Murder of 5 year old AJ Freund
Randi Freese prosecuted two parents for their brutal and heinous murder of their 5 year old son, AJ Freund, in April of 2019. Randi Freese obtained a sentence of 35 years for AJ’s mother, Joann Cunningham and a 30 year sentence for AJ’s father, Andrew Freund.
People vs. Carlos Acosta—GUILTY of Endangering the Life and Health of a Child
In the first case of its kind in Illinois and the first successful prosecution of its kind in the country, Randi Freese convicted Acosta, a DCFS employee, for his involvement in 5-year-old AJ Freund’s death following a bench trial in September of 2023. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Acosta, a DCFS employee assigned to investigate the parents of AJ Freund a mere 4 months prior to his death, ignored the duties of his job and returned AJ to his parents without doing anything to protect him.
People vs. William Bishop—GUILTY of First Degree Murder and Aggravated DUI Death
Randi Freese tried and convicted Bishop of First Degree Murder and Aggravated Driving Under the Influence at a bench trial in October of 2022. Evidence at trial revealed that on May 18, 2020, William Bishop, a resident of the city of Chicago, drove up to McHenry County, Illinois. While traveling westbound on Vanderkarr Road, Bishop accelerated his vehicle, crossed the center line and deliberately crashed his vehicle traveling between 80-87 miles per hour into a construction van containing two men traveling home from a jobsite. The driver of the van was immediately killed, and the passenger sustained critical, debilitating injuries. Bishop walked away without any visible injuries but testing of his blood revealed THC levels of more than twice the legal limit. Bishop was sentenced to a total of 31 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Byron Howard—GUILTY of First Degree Murder, Home Invasion and Armed Robbery
Randi Freese tried and convicted Byron Howard of First Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, Armed Habitual Criminal and Burglary following a jury trial in April of 2019. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Howard and another defendant, Adam Morris, while armed with firearms, burglarized a McHenry home. During the unlawful entry, the homeowner was shot and killed and his wife was robbed at gunpoint. Howard was sentenced to a total of 86 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Adam Morris—GUILTY of First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery
Randi Freese tried and convicted Adam Morris of First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Burglary and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon at a jury trial in March of 2019. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Morris and another defendant, Byron Howard, while armed with firearms burglarized a McHenry home. During the unlawful entry, the homeowner was shot and killed and his wife was robbed at gunpoint. Morris was sentenced to a total of 75 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Anthony Harrison—GUILTY of First Degree Murder
Randi Freese tried and convicted Harrison of First Degree Murder at a bench trial in August of 2018. Evidence introduced at trial showed that in June of 2016, Harrison called 911 for medical assistance after attempting to take his own life and admitted to the dispatcher that he’d killed his own wife two days earlier. Officers responded to his home in McHenry and found his deceased wife who had been stabbed, beaten and strangled. Through further investigation, detectives discovered that Harrison had purchased items to conceal or destroy evidence of the murder and it also appeared that Harrison intended to burn his house down with the remains of his wife inside. Harrison was sentenced to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for which Harrison must serve all 40 years.
People vs. Brandon Napolitan—GUILTY of First Degree Murder
Randi Freese tried and convicted Napolitan of First Degree Murder at a bench trial in the spring of 2018. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Napolitan stabbed his roommate in Woodstock, stole his car and fled to Wisconsin where he was ultimately apprehended by police. Napolitan was sentenced to a total of 28 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for which Napolitan must serve all 28 years.
People vs. Maxim Parnov—GUILTY of First Degree Murder
Randi Freese prosecuted Maxim Parnov for the November 2021 murder of his mother and stepfather in Algonquin Illinois. Randi Freese obtained a 50 year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, a sentence for which Maxim Parnov must serve all 50 years.
People vs. Ryan Yarber—GUILTY of Murder of 2 Crystal Lake women
Randi Freese prosecuted Ryan Yarber for the 2017 murder of his wife and 15-year-old sister in law in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Randi Freese successfully obtained a sentence of 65 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Angel Cardoza—GUILTY of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Battery
Randi Freese prosecuted Angel Cardoza for the offenses of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Battery for an attack on two women in September of 2019. Evidence introduced at the sentencing hearing revealed that a woman was walking on the Ridgefield Trace bike path in Crystal Lake when Cardoza approached the women and grabbed her. Cardoza then repeatedly struck the woman in the head with a hammer. A bicyclist saw Cardoza striking the woman and stopped and yelled that she was going to call 911. Cardoza then ran towards the bicyclist and struck her in the arm with the hammer before fleeing the scene. Cardoza was later apprehended. Randi Freese successfully argued on behalf of the State’s Attorney’s Office and obtained a total sentence of 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Brian Odell—GUILTY of Armed Robbery and Armed Violence
Randi Freese tried and convicted Brian Odell of Armed Robbery, Armed Violence, Unlawful Restraint and Mob Action following a jury trial in January of 2018. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Odell and a co-offender held a woman up at gunpoint and stole her iPhone in Woodstock, Illinois. Odell and the co-offender ordered two men to the ground at gunpoint, robbing one of the men of his wallet and brutally beating both men. Odell was sentenced to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Cesar Rojas Figueroa—GUILTY of Armed Habitual Criminal, Cocaine and Domestic Battery
Randi Freese tried and convicted Cesar Rojas Figueroa of Armed Habitual Criminal, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, Possession of more than 100 grams of Cocaine with Intent to Deliver and Domestic Battery following a bench trial in March of 2014. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that police were dispatched to a residence in Harvard for the report of domestic disturbance. Police met with a female victim who had noticeable injuries. During the course of their investigation, police discovered a firearm and large quantities of cocaine and cannabis and other items related to drug distribution that belonged to Rojas Figueroa. Figueroa was sentenced to 16 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Matthew Render—GUILTY of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault
Randi Freese prosecuted Matthew Render for Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child and successfully obtained a 40 year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People v. Robert Maron—GUILTY of Assaulting 3 Young Girls
Randi Freese prosecuted Robert Maron for sexually assaulting 3 young girls under the age of 10 in the 1990’s in Cary. Randi Freese successfully obtained a 32 year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the crimes of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault and Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.
People vs. Bohdan Ostryzniuk—GUILTY of Criminal Sexual Assault and Domestic Battery
Randi Freese prosecuted Bohdan Ostryzniuk for offenses of Criminal Sexual Assault and Domestic Battery related to a brutal physical and sexual assault on a victim in Wonder Lake in November of 2016. Randi Freese argued on behalf of the prosecution at the sentencing hearing and obtained a 7 year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Ruben Popoca Garcia—GUILTY of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse
Randi Freese tried and convicted Ruben Popoca Garcia of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse before a jury in October of 2018 in Harvard. Evidence introduced at trial that Popoca Garcia was having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old minor and following the initial investigation into the allegations, Popoca Garcia fled to Mexico and was not apprehended until years later. Popoca Garcia was sentenced to 4 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. James Linder—GUILTY of Drug-Induced Homicide
Randi Freese tried and convicted Linder before a jury in January of 2017 for the offense of Drug-Induced Homicide. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Linder sold heroin to a 21-year-old woman from Algonquin who overdosed and died from the heroin. Linder was sentenced to a total of 28 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Durelle Hall—GUILTY of Drug-Induced Homicide
Randi Freese tried and convicted Hall before a jury in July of 2017 for the offense of Drug-Induced Homicide. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Hall sold a substance containing fentanyl and heroin to a 20-year-old woman from Marengo. The 20-year-old woman overdosed and died from that substance. Hall was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Ryan Heineman—GUILTY of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence
Randi Freese tried and convicted Heineman of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence before a jury in February of 2019. Evidence at trial revealed that Heineman, while driving a female passenger, drove his vehicle off the road and crashed into trees on the side of Route 12 in Spring Grove Illinois. The female passenger died on scene. Heineman’s blood was drawn at the hospital which revealed a BAC of .131. Heineman was sentenced to 6 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Victor Patrick Robelet—GUILTY of Workers’ Compensation Act Fraud
Robelet, a former Crystal Lake Police Officer, pled guilty to Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Fraud and ordered to pay back $94, 540.21 to the City of Crystal Lake and their insurance agency due to fraudulent claims of an injury from an on-duty car accident. The $94,520.21 was paid back in full.
People v. Michael Karavastev—GUILTY OF Trafficking than 70 lbs. of Cannabis into McHenry County
Randi Freese tried and convicted Michael Karavastev of Cannabis Trafficking before a jury in 2016. Evidence at trial revealed that Karavastev trafficked more than 70 pounds of cannabis from Reno, Nevada to Crystal Lake, Illinois. Karavastev was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
People vs. Marcus Hubbel – GUILTY of Grooming
Randi Freese tried and convicted Hubbel before a jury in January of 2019 for the offense of Grooming. Evidence introduced at trial showed that Hubbel tried to entice a 16-year-old teenager to send him explicit photos.
People vs. Christopher Galie—GUILTY of Money Laundering and Possession of Cannabis
Randi Freese prosecuted Christopher Galie for the offenses of Money Laundering and Possession of Cannabis and secured sentences of 8 years and 5 respectively in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Randi Freese also successfully forfeited to the People of the State of Illinois approximately $650,000 worth of cryptocurrency, nearly $250,000 of United States Currency and other assets, including gold and silver bars valued at approximately $150,000.
People v. Torian Rodez—GUILTY of Child Pornography
Randi Freese tried and convicted Torian Rodez before a jury of possessing child pornography.