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Crime & Safety

Court Watch: Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Puggle Theft

A weekly roundup of activity in the DuPage County Circuit Court.

Downers Grove:
A 20-year-old Downers Grove man has pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a teen girl in 2010. Daniel Bashaw was charged last year with fondling and having sexual contact with the girl during July and August of 2010. In a plea with prosecutors formalized this week, Bashaw was sentenced to 90 days in the DuPage County Jail, two years of probation and is required to register as a sex offender. Bashaw, who will surrender to the jail on April 10, is also prohibited from having contact with anyone under the age of 18. Prosecutors dropped a second sex abuse count as part of the agreement.

Naperville:
The woman accused of trying to steal a puggle puppy from a Naperville pet store pleaded not guilty this week. Susan Sullivan faces one retail theft charge, which claims she tried to take the dog from Happiness is Pets in February. Police said Sullivan put the dog under coat and began to leave the store before being stopped by employees. Sullivan is scheduled to return to court April 30.

Wheaton:
One of three men accused of sexually assaulting a teen girl in a Wheaton apartment last year had his bail reduced. Chet Magar is now held on $750,000 bail in DuPage County Jail on aggravated criminal sexual assault charges. He pleaded not guilty during a March 19 hearing. Prosecutors allege Magar and two others - Gyan Magar and Dambar Pithakotey - each had sex with the girl, who they prevented from leaving. Chet and Gyan Magar return to court April 3, while Pithakotey is scheduled for arraignment on March 26.

Woodridge:
A Rosemont woman arrested on charges she intentionally set a fire at a Woodridge apartment complex has pleaded not guilty. Maria Bustamante, 19, is accused of aggravated arson and residential arson in connection to the February fire at the Windsor Lakes apartments. During her March 19 arraignment, the judge also ordered Bustamante to undergo a psychological evaluation. She remains held in DuPage County Jail on $1 million bail.

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