Court Watch: Man in Jail on $25,000 bail in Cat Death Case

Wheaton:
A 33-year-old St. Charles man accused of causing the death of a cat in Wheaton remains in on $25,000 bail after making his first formal court appearance on Jan. 3. David Potts was appointed a public defender during the hearing, and is scheduled to return to court on the aggravated cruelty to an animal charge on Jan. 23. Authorities said Potts "caused serious injury/death" to an acquaintance's cat, named Patches, court records show.

Woodridge:
For the second time, a scheduled trial has been postponed in the case of a Woodridge mother charged with endangering her children. Sunitha Budithi was arrested in May after a fire started at inside the family's home. Prosecutors allege Budithi left her two children alone in the residence at the time of a fire, which reportedly was ignited by a candle. She has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. The case was set for an October trial, but was continued to Jan. 4. The most recent trial date was postponed over a protective order on certain records. A Jan. 24 hearing has been scheduled.

Attorneys will return to court on Jan. 27 for a hearing in the case of Yashesh Desai, the man accused of killing his father last year. Desai was found unfit to stand trial in November and has been in a downstate Illinois Department of Human Services facility for treatment since just after Thanksgiving. Court records indicate a DHS treatment plan has been released to attorneys and the next court hearing will "rexamine (Desai's) fitness." The report has been sealed from public inspection.