Illinois quick hits: Guatemalan national guilty of illegal presence; ‘peacekeeper’ arrested for battery

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Guatemalan national guilty of illegal presence

A Guatemalan national has pleaded guilty to being illegally present in the United States after a prior removal and failing to update his registration as a convicted sex offender.

Prosecutors say Roberto Nicolas-Simon, 24, had been removed from the country following his 2020 conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor in Champaign County.

Sentencing is scheduled Feb. 2, 2026 at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.

‘Peacekeeper’ arrested for aggravated battery of peace officer

A man who identified himself as a “peacekeeper” is charged with felony aggravated battery of a peace officer, felony resisting, and felony possession of a controlled substance after a scuffle with Chicago police officers Monday afternoon.

CWB Chicago reports that Chester Alexander, 30, swung with a closed fist and struck an officer.

Police identified Alexander as a violence interruptor in the city of Chicago program.

Online payment system to be down

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says his office’s e-commerce services will be unavailable Sunday, Sept. 28 from 5:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. due to a maintenance update by payment processor Global Payments.

Last year, Giannoulias’ office notified some Illinois residents of a data security incident which may have exposed names, driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers.