La Salle gun suspect gets Oct. 2 trial date

A recently released felon linked to a La Salle shooting last fall will stand trial Oct. 2 on three gun and drug felonies.

Justin J. Waterworth, 32, of Ottawa, appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court and got his request for a new judge. His case was transferred to Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr., who ordered Waterworth to return Sept. 22 for a final pre-trial conference.

Waterworth was picked up July 10 on a La Salle County warrant charging him with reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon, both stemming from the Nov. 19 shot fired at Seventh and Crosat streets in La Salle. No one was injured in the shooting.

While being taken into custody, however, Waterworth was found to be carrying about 10 grams of purported cocaine, police said. The drug seizure resulted in his most serious charge, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony carrying up to 30 years because of his criminal record.

Prosecutors said Waterworth, while not on parole, had been discharged less than 72 hours before his arrest.