Stephenson County state's attorney reports steady case resolution, upcoming Fry hearing on ShotSpotter evidence

The state's attorney reported to the Support Services Committee on July 9 that the office has, in July, been resolving as many felony cases as it has charged and that the office has an active calendar of jury and bench trials.

The attorney said one assistant recently took leave following the birth of a child and the office is “3 attorneys short” in the interim, which staff said has required colleagues to cover additional duties. The state's attorney praised cooperation with the public defender’s office and judges to resolve cases where possible and try cases when necessary.

The attorney demonstrated interest in a small translator device that the clerk's office has been using to facilitate communication with witnesses who speak Spanish; the device allows a user to speak a phrase and have it translated and played for another person, the state's attorney told the committee and said the office planned to purchase one.

The state's attorney also described an upcoming Fry hearing scheduled to determine whether ShotSpotter sensor recordings and location data are admissible as non‑novel scientific evidence. The attorney explained that the ShotSpotter system triangulates impulsive sounds detected by microphones and that a human reviewer evaluates the recordings to determine whether they represent gunfire, a vehicle backfire or other sounds. The attorney said the case at issue involves allegations of a handgun modified to fully automatic fire from a moving vehicle and that the ShotSpotter report can provide timestamps and locations for individual shots.

Committee members asked procedural questions about trial volumes and the attorney cited statewide statistical reporting for context. The attorney invited follow‑up questions and said staff would be available for additional briefings as needed.