Detention hearing delayed for Geneva man accused in 2 stabbing deaths

A Kane County judge Thursday agreed to delay a hearing on the pretrial release of a man charged in the stabbing deaths of a Geneva woman and her son in a domestic violence incident the day after Christmas.

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser sought to deny the pretrial release of Alejandro Cota, 50, of the 2700 block of Emma’s Way.

Cota is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Christina Chavira and 13-year-old Damien Chavira.

Cota, shackled and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, stood before Associate Judge Julia Yetter flanked by his public defender Ron Dolak to the left and a sheriff’s deputy to his right.

Dolak asked Yetter to delay the hearing so he could have more time to review evidence – an amount that is more than 1,000 pieces so far – and to talk to his client.

“He’s agreeing to his detention,” Dolak said.

Mosser said she understood that Cota is willing to stay in custody, but the petition for pretrial detention hearing should proceed.

“This is a double homicide in which no information is being released until that detention hearing,” Mosser said.

Yetter ruled that Dolak could have more time to review ongoing evidence being released through the discovery process.

The next hearing on the petition to deny Cota’s pretrial release is Tuesday, Jan. 14.