Jury Selection Begins In Trial Of Former Illini Player Jereme Richmond
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (STMW) -- Jury selection took place Monday to kick off the harassment of a witness trial of former Waukegan basketball star and former Fighting Illini player Jereme Richmond.
Richmond, 21, is charged with threatening a probation officer in May of this year, when he was about three months shy of completing an 18-month probationary term for bringing a gun to his ex-girlfriend's house in Waukegan in August 2011.
One of his probationary terms was to submit to random drug and alcohol testing, and he was accused of refusing to submit to a test April 22.
When he met with his probation officer on April 25, he is accused of telling the officer to "be real safe," and making a hand gesture in the shape of a gun and a shooting gesture toward the probation officer, according to officials.
The probation officer had been scheduled to testify against Richmond April 26 in a hearing to revoke his probation.
Richmond now faces three to seven years in prison if he is convicted of Class 2 felony harassment of a witness. He could also be sentenced to four years of probation, 18 to 30 months of periodic imprisonment and receive a fine up to $25,000.
Richmond is in custody at Lake County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)