Criminal history for man charged in Geneva double murder detailed in court petition

The man charged in the stabbing deaths of a mother and her son in Geneva has a criminal history spanning 33 years, according to a court petition against allowing him pretrial release.

The petition by Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser details convictions and charges against Alejandro Cota, 50, of Geneva, including:

• Six years in prison in 1991 for an armed robbery involving the discharge of a firearm in Cook County
• Convicted 11 times from 1999 to 2008 for driving with a revoked license
• Has an outstanding felony warrant in DuPage County since 2015 for driving with a revoked license, charged in 2011
• Deported in 2012 to Mexico
• Sentenced federally in 2013 for re-entry after deportation
• Placed on probation on charges of harassment by communication and unlawful restraint in Marana, Ariz. in 2012, both coded as domestic violence

Cota currently faces four counts of felony first-degree murder in the deaths of Christina Chavira, 47, and her son, Damien, 13, in the 2700 block of Emma’s Way in Geneva. Christina Chavira died Dec. 26, the day of the attack. Damien died Dec. 27, records show.

According to the petition, if Cota is found guilty of first-degree murder of both victims, the defendant is eligible for life in prison, which makes him a flight risk.

Cota tried to flee the scene after the murders, which also shows he is a flight risk, according to the petition.

The petition also states Cota would be a “real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community” if he were released. It specifies another child of Christina’s “whom “the state believes would also be in danger of harm if the defendant were released.”

Cota’s attorney Ron Dolak said in court Thursday that his client was willing to remain in custody. He asked for more time to review evidence and speak to Cota while Mosser argued that the hearing should go forward.

Over Mosser’s objection, Associate Judge Julia Yetter delayed the pretrial detention hearing until Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Cota’s attorney did not return a voicemail message seeking comment about the details of his client’s criminal history as stated in Mosser’s petition.