Rountree requests new judge after being accused of child endangerment in connection with daughter’s death

Posted on January 28, 2020
Richard Rountree, 31, of Normal. (Photo Normal Police Department)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The attorney for Richard Rountree filed a motion in McLean County Court asking for a new judge on his jury trial.

News partner HOI ABC reports the motion alleges judge William Yoder “is so prejudiced against the Defendant that the Defendant will be unable to receive a fair hearing if this case is heard before said Judge.”

Rountree is accused of child endangerment in connection to his 8-year-old daughter’s death in January, 2019.

Rountree’s girlfriend, Cynthia Baker, was found guilty in November of first-degree murder in the death of Rica Rountree, but saw her sentence vacated on January 3 when she hired a new attorney with plans to argue for ineffective counsel in her murder trial.

The motion by Rountree’s public defender specifically asks for the case to be transferred to the Chief Judge for reassignment.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…