Bond denied for man charged with fleeing following brother’s funeral

WHEATON, Ill. - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that bond was denied yesterday for a recently convicted gunrunner accused of fleeing after the man cut off his electronic GPS monitor following his brother’s funeral.

Bruce Berrier, 23, formerly of Villa Park, appeared in Bond Court yesterday morning where Judge Craig Belford ordered he be held without bond.

On July 2, 2021, Berrier entered a plea of guilty to one count of Gunrunning, a Class 1 Felony.

On December 14, 2021, he was sentenced to ten years in the Illinois Department of Corrections to be served at seventy-five percent but, on January 10, 2022, while still in custody at the DuPage County Jail awaiting transfer to the IDOC and over the State’s objection, Berrier was granted permission by the Court to attend his brother’s funeral services on January 11, 2022.

At approximately 8:00 a.m., January 11, 2022, after being fitted with an electronic GPS monitoring device, Berrier was released from custody from the DuPage County Jail. As per the Court’s order, Berrier was to return to the DuPage County Jail at 2:00 p.m. the same day. It is alleged that at approximately 1:27 p.m., Berrier cut off his electronic GPS monitoring device.^[1] Shortly after, Berrier’s electronic GPS monitoring device was found by the Elmhurst Police Department. It is further alleged that Berrier failed to return to the DuPage County Jail by 2:00 p.m. as ordered by the Court. Judge Kleeman issued a $150,000 arrest warrant on the Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property charge.

The following day, January 12, 2022, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a Petition for Indirect Criminal Contempt. Subsequently, Judge Reidy issued a no-bond Arrest Warrant for Berrier and, on January 13, 2022, Judge Kleeman issued a $500,000 arrest warrant for Berrier on the escape charges.

On January 22, 2022, Berrier was located at the Jewel Osco in Glendale Heights and taken into custody. The cases against Berrier will be in front of Judge Reidy. If found guilty, any sentence Berrier receives will be served consecutively to his previously imposed ten-year sentence.

Berrier has been charged with one count of Indirect Criminal Contempt of Court, one count of Escape/Violate Electronic Home Monitoring Detention Program (Class 3 Felony), one count of Failure to Return to a Penal Institution (Class 3 Felony) and one count of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property (Class 4 Felony).

Berrier’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 14, 2022, for arraignment in front of Judge Reidy.

The Chicago Journal needs your support.

At just $20/year, your subscription not only helps us grow, it helps maintain our commitment to independent publishing and remain free from influence.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

Notes & References