After social media threats involving concert, McHenry County judge increases man’s bond to $50K

A McHenry County judge increased the bond Friday of a 28-year-old Algonquin man charged with aggravated battery of a 71-year-old female relative – and who made threats on social media that “there is going to be a shooting” at Bridgeview music festival – from $25,000 to $50,000.

This was much lower than the $500,000 bond Assistant State’s Attorney Jim Newman asked Judge David Gervais to set.

“Our request is reasonable,” Newman told the judge.

In citing recent mass shootings across the country, including the Highland Park July 4th shooting that resulted in seven deaths and several injuries, Newman said Daniel O. Susma is “a threat to himself, [the victim] and the community at large.”

Susma, who appeared on a monitor from the jail during the bond hearing, is charged with aggravated battery to a person over 60 years old, a Class 3 felony, aggravated domestic battery, Class 2 felony, and four counts of domestic battery, Class A misdemeanor, according to the criminal complaint filed in the McHenry County courthouse.

Susma is accused of striking the woman in the face, scratching her on her face, back and arms and covering her mouth and nose as she screamed and “impeded(ing) her breathing” on Monday while at the victim’s home where he lived, according to the motion filed to increase his bond.

When arrested, a firearm surrender was ordered and a permanent no contact provision with the woman was put in place.

In court Friday, Newman said Susma already had violated that order by calling the victim twice “manipulating” her to post his bond and get him out of jail.

Newman said it wasn’t until after Susma’s initial bond hearing Tuesday where the $25,000 bond was set, that his office learned of the social media posts Susma put on his Instagram. Reports were provided to prosecutors by the FBI, Algonquin Police and Bridgeview Police.

On July 8, Algonquin Police spoke with Susma about the lengthy post which rambled, and at times did not make sense, and included that there was “going to be a shooting at NORTH COAST MUSIC FEST,” an annual festival scheduled for Labor Day weekend.

Algonquin authorities were alerted by organizers of Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza music festival who said Susma had been a volunteer there for the past nine years. Susma posted that he had been a volunteer with North Coast for past eight years, according to the motion.

When he was questioned about his posts he “alternated between providing responsive answers to offering random disorganized thoughts.” He then told police he “wants to see a shooting so he could film it” but that he “does not want to shoot anyone,” according to the motion.

The motion also states that the night of his arrest he would switch between a calm demeanor to rage.

In rights court on Tuesday he “spontaneously” said he was “trying to save [the relative’s] life” and that they were “being attacked,” the motion states.

The woman said Susma does not take his medications and she believes he is using marijuana and possibly cocaine, according to the motion.

Prosecutors also said that on June 4, the alleged victim called Algonquin police reporting Susma was “manic and refusing to take his medication.” In that incident, she said he “grabbed her arm and destroyed the phone she was holding.”

Police took Susma to a hospital in Woodstock and he was involuntarily committed and he stayed there for about a week. When he was released he went back to the relative’s home, prosecutors said.

On July 7, the day after he allegedly made the threatening posts on Instagram, Susma was escorted out and banned from Lifetime Fitness Center in Algonquin. He was accused of ”making threatening statements to patrons,” according to the motion.

Assistant Public Defender Angelo Mourelatos argued that Susma’s bond stay the same or be lowered. He said Susma does not have the means to pay a higher bond and has no prior criminal history. He knows he cannot go back to the home and would stay with friends and needs to be out of jail so he can see his doctors in Waukegan.

“This is frustrating,” Mourelatos said, suggesting if Susma is freed on bond and does not comply with his medications, and there is concern for his or anyone else’s safety, police could be called and he could be involuntarily committed.

“He is entitled to a reasonable bond,” Mourelatos said. “We can’t predict what happens in the future. We live in heightened times where tragedies are happening. He is mentally ill. It is not right to increase his bond. ... Obviously we are dealing with someone who is sick. He needs help.”

Mourelatos said he was going to be sending Susma for a fitness evaluation.

Newman said the state is “not trying to put up boundaries to him getting help.”

“We can do evaluations in the jail to render him fit or unfit,” Newman said. “We are just making sure he gets help in the safest way possible.”

Gervais said that should Susma bond out he is required “immediately go to court services” to get and wear a GPS tracking system at the county’s expense, must stay at least 1,000 feet from the alleged victim’s residence, take all of his prescribed medications and follow all recommended treatment plans including in-patient care. He must provide a fixed address and would be on 24-hour house curfew, and only allowed to leave for doctor’s appointments and court.

Newman emphasized Susma not be allowed near any large festivals, as well as near Lollapalooza or the North Coast Music Fest. The judge responded by referring back to the curfew and tracking system that would be in place. He also allowed him to have three noncollect phone calls to nonprotected parties.