North Aurora man, 74, gets probation in stalking case
By Matt Hanley mhanley@stmedianetwork.com June 4, 2012 5:20PM
Thomas Adams
Updated: July 7, 2012 8:29AM
The 74-year-old North Aurora man who was convicted under a new, stricter stalking law will have to wear a GPS bracelet for one year.
Thomas Adams, of the 200 block of South Union Street, was the first person to go to trial in Kane County under the state’s revised stalking statutes. Prosecutors said Adams violated an order of protection filed by a woman he had dated.
An order of protection prohibits the defendant from stalking, harassing or having any contact with the victim. The state’s amended stalking statute — which took effect June 1, 2010 — widens the scope of criminal behavior. Now, almost any contact that causes emotional distress can be charged, including driving by the victim’s home, appearing within the victim’s eyesight or showing up at the victim’s job.
Under the old Illinois statute, the person barred from contact under an order of protection could continue to drive by, call or send items to the victim’s home, as long as there was no threat attached with the contact. If the suspect sent non-threatening notes or just waved at the protected person, it was not considered stalking.
According to prosecutors, on April 11, 2011, the victim filed for an order of protection against Adams in DeKalb County. Prosecutors said Adams — also known as John C. Cassimatis — had continued to pursue the woman after their dating relationship ended in early 2011.
On July 11, 2011, that order of protection was made permanent. But prosecutors said Adams continued to drive past the woman’s home and workplace, causing emotional distress.
In April, a Kane County jury convicted Adams of driving past the woman’s Sugar Grove home on Sept. 8, 9 and 19, 2011; and past her place of work on Sept. 15 and Oct. 18, 2011.
Last week, Adams was sentenced to 180 days in jail, 30 months probation and one year of GPS monitoring, according to Kane County court records. Adams was given credit for 180 days he had already served in jail. He was also ordered to pay more than $4,800 in fines, according to court records.
Adams was eligible for five years imprisonment for the Sugar Grove incidents and one to three years on the Aurora incidents.
