From the McHenry County State’s Attorney:

RANDI FREESE BECOMES FIRST ASSISTANT STATES ATTORNEY AND JIM NEWMAN IS NAMED CRIMINAL CHIEF

Patrick D. Kenneally, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Rita Gara, First Assistant State’s Attorney, has resigned from this position as of 9/17/2021 and that Randi Freese is the new First Assistant State’s Attorney starting 9/20/2021.

Jim Newman has recently joined our office and is named the Chief of the Criminal Division. 

Randi Freese has been the Chief of the Criminal Division since February, 2019, and has successfully prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases, including murders, drug-induced homicides and sex offenses since starting with our office in 2011. Starting as an intern while at DePaul University College of Law, she has served in all areas of the office, from misdemeanor cases to drug asset forfeitures, and felony cases. In 2012, Freese was awarded Turning Point’s Peace and Justice Award for her prosecution of domestic violence cases. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the position of First Assistant. 

Jim Newman brings 18 years of experience as an Assistant State’s Attorney with Lake County, where he prosecuted numerous first-degree murders, gang related violent crimes, narcotics, as well as sex crimes. Jim is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law. Since 2017, Newman has been an Adjunct Professor at the College of Lake County teaching Criminal Procedural Law and Criminal Law. 

We are confident that Randi and Jim will continue to excel in their pursuit of justice for the citizens of McHenry County.