A Peru woman accused of injuring a La Salle County court security officer during a videotaping project has hired a lawyer and postponed her attempts to have charges dismissed.
Angel Farmer, 29, appeared Wednesday for a hearing on a motion to dismiss, but that matter was continued to Thursday, Aug. 26, after she appeared with private counsel. Chicago attorney David Shestokas entered his appearance on Farmer’s behalf and, after a short conference with Farmer, agreed to a continuance while he gets up to speed.
Farmer could face up to a year in jail if convicted of three counts of misdemeanor battery. She and her brother, 29-year-old Jacob Farmer of Morris, also are charged with misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.
Jacob Farmer appeared Wednesday for separate proceedings, but also left with a new court date. Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. set a Monday, Aug. 16, hearing for pre-trial motions and told Jacob to reduce his pleadings into writing.
Ryan also served Jacob Farmer with a copy of the order holding him in contempt. As previously reported, Jacob was held in direct contempt after making an obscene gesture inside the courtroom. Ryan reserved handing down a penalty until the misdemeanor case is concluded.
Brother and sister were charged March 8 following an incident at the La Salle County Courthouse on Etna Road, where the Farmers were conducting a videotaped public access compliance check. The siblings tape their encounters entering public buildings and then upload the footage to YouTube.