Judge Won't Lower Bond For Teen Charged In YouTube Beating
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A judge on Monday refused to lower the bond for the son of a Cook County Sheriff's officer charged with the brutal beating and robbery of a 17-year-old boy that went viral after being posted on YouTube.
Raymond Palomino, 17, of the 3500 block of South Hoyne Avenue, the only one of seven teens to be charged as an adult, has been held in the Cook County Jail on $100,000 bond since a hearing on Jan. 18.
All seven are charged with robbery and aggravated battery, both felonies, police spokesman Mike Sullivan said.
On Monday, his attorney asked that the bond be lowered, but Judge Sandra Ramos refused that request and also denied allowing Palomino to be released on electronic monitoring, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.
The other teens allegedly involved — a 15-year-old girl, two 16-year-old boys and three 15-year-old boys — were cited in juvenile delinquency petitions.
Asst. Cook County State's Atty. Erin Antonietti said at the hearing that Palomino and the other teens asked the girl involved to lure the victim to the alley in the Bridgeport neighborhood. When they saw the boy, Raymond Palomino said, "Get him!" and they began the attack, Antonietti said.
The victim, 17, suffered a swollen and bloody nose, cuts to his lips and bruising to his eyes, ribs and other parts of his body.
Palomino allegedly took the victim's backpack and wallet, she said, removed cash from the wallet and tossed it in a sewer.
The entire attack was videotaped by one of the attackers on his cell phone, prosecutors said.
Palomino's father, Michael Palomino, told the Sun-Times that he was the one who called police and turned his son in.
He said his son didn't give a reason as to why he and the others attacked the victim.
He also said he believed the bond was "too high" and said he can't afford to bail his son out.
Five of the six youths charged are of Chinese descent and their initial hearing in juvenile court is scheduled for Tuesday. It was delayed so a Cantonese interpreter could assist family members who do not speak English.
All have been told to keep an 8 p.m. curfew and maintain a C grade average. They were also warned not to have any contact with the victim.
A preliminary hearing for Palomino was set for Feb. 10, Conklin said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
