Streator drug suspect rearrested after 4 days free

Derek Hornick cut a deal Friday that didn’t end all his legal troubles – he still faces up to 30 years in prison related to drug charges – but the deal at least got him out of the La Salle County Jail. He lasted four days.

Hornick, 46, of Streator, was back Wednesday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a detention hearing. Although he still faces a Class X felony charge related to cocaine – the trial date is March 24 – attorneys had worked out a misdemeanor plea Friday that let him go home while awaiting his drug trial, provided he stay out of trouble.

He didn’t. On Tuesday morning, Streator police officers said they retrieved brass knuckles during an incident in the 700 block of North Bloomington Street. Hornick was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, a Class 3 felony carrying two to five years in prison, plus misdemeanor resisting a peace officer.

This time, Hornick is staying put. Judge Michael C. Jansz declined to cut Hornick loose again, noting that four days elapsed between his release and his latest brush with the law.

At Wednesday’s detention hearing, prosecutor Ryan Cantlin spelled out Hornick’s recent history in failing to comply with the terms of release.

Hornick was fitted with an ankle bracelet Oct. 28, along with orders to have no contact with the victim in a domestic violence case. Despite the warnings, two violations were reported Oct. 30 and Nov. 8 when the GPS device placed him at a restricted address.

On Nov. 9, Hornick was picked up on a warrant. While being taken to the La Salle County Jail, Hornick incurred a charge of escape for jumping out of a moving squad car. Ottawa police ordered him to stop and then Tased him. He was charged with felony meth possession after an ensuing search yielded 7 grams.

He was subsequently accused of the Class X felony possession charge for having at least 15 grams of cocaine, which was seized Aug. 27.

Public Defender Ryan Hamer said the facts presented suggest a drug problem, but Hornick is serious about drug rehabilitation. He proposed sanctions rather than jail, noting that home confinement would address any concerns about public safety.

The judge quickly ruled out pretrial release even under more restrictive terms.