Landmark Injuction Entered Against Satan Disciples Street Gang

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that Circuit Court Judge Edward R. Duncan issued a permanent injunction against named members of the Satan Disciples street gang.   This order prohibits them from any public contact with each other or any other Satan Disciple Gang member.  The order also prohibits them from possessing weapons or committing any batteries, assaults or engaging in any fighting.  If any one of these acts is committed by the named defendants, the State’s Attorney may seek a sanction of criminal contempt.

The named defendants whom the permanent injunction order was granted are:  Gonzalo Arancibia; Juan Cantu; Abdel Cardenas; Cayetano Castro; Matthew Escobedo; Arthur Guillen, Jr.; Thomas Guillen; Brett C. Halfpenny, Jr.; Steven A. Karns; John Nieto; Eric Perez; Emilio Salinas; William E. Seaholm; and Joel Yepiz.

The lawsuit, the first of its kind in Illinois, was originally filed in October, 1999.  It alleged that over a period of five years this gang had harassed and intimidated police officers as well as private citizens.  It further alleged that they have illegally possessed and transferred weapons.  It also alleged that they have engaged in turf battles with rival gangs and in so doing, terrorized entire neighborhoods by shooting at each other.  According to Birkett, individual gang members have been prosecuted and sentenced to prison, but this had not stopped the illegal actions of fellow gang members.

Testimony was first taken in November, 1999, but the court at that time did not allow any relief.  After an appeal of this ruling, Judge Duncan entered preliminary orders in April, 2002 that these defendants refrain from possessing or using any weapons or committing any batteries.  Today, Judge Duncan extended this order and permanently prohibited any public contact by these individuals with each other.

Money damages from these defendants were also sought for the police costs attributed to the activities of the Satan Disciples in West Chicago.  Judge Duncan declined to order these defendants to pay the approximately $525,000 sought, citing the lack of evidence to establish that these costs were directly attributable to the unlawful activities of these persons.

“Judge Duncan’s decision giving the State a “no gang contact” order in this civil case is a landmark in Illinois courts.  Besides California and Texas, no other court has allowed this kind of civil remedy to combat the deteriorating effects gangs have on local communities,” said State’s Attorney Birkett.  “I want to personally thank and credit the police and civilian members of West Chicago for their cooperation and diligence in pursuing this lawsuit.  They have set an example for the rest of the State to follow.”