States Attorney
ELMHURST MAN SENTENCED TO 30 DAYS IN ARSON
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that Judge George Bakalis has sentenced Elmhurst resident Daniel Kunesh, 18, (2/16/1988) to 30 days in the DuPage County Jail for his role in the intentional setting of a fire to a school bus in July 2005. On September 8, 2006, two other defendants in the case, Brian Marchese, 18, (d.o.b. 1/3/1988) and Justin Jones, 18, (d.o.b. 7/1/1988) were each sentenced to 360 days in the DuPage County Jail for their involvement in the incident as well as for setting fire to an Elmhurst home under construction.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. July 24, 2005, Elmhurst Police and Fire Departments responded to reports of a fire at 845 Poplar in Elmhurst. Upon their arrival, officers found the residence completely engulfed in flames. The flames had also caused fire damage to neighboring homes, resulting in damages of more than $1 million. Two days later, on July 26, 2005, the Elmhurst Fire Department responded to reports of an Elmhurst Community School District school bus being set on fire. Damage to the school bus was estimated at more than $10,000. No injuries were reported in either incident. The evidence established that Kunesh himself did not start the fires, but facilitated this crime by driving the other two offenders and abetting in their illegal conduct.
“The senseless destruction caused by Mr. Kunesh and his co-defendants can be repaired,” commented Birkett. “What cannot be removed or repaired however, is the permanent mark left on Mr. Kunesh’s record. I would like to thank the Elmhurst Police and Fire Departments for their assistance in this case, allowing us to quickly bring all three of these men to justice before they could cause further damage.”
In addition to his sentence, Kunesh was ordered to pay $15,000 restitution, contribute $500 to the Arson Task Force, complete 150 hours of community service and serve 24 months probation.
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