Two men charged in Riverside with kidnapping remain at Cook County Jail after appearing before a Cook County Circuit Court judge at a preliminary hearing on Monday morning.
On March 2, a judge set the bond for 38-year-old Trini Morado and his 22-year-old nephew, Steven Morado, at $500,000 each. Both men have been charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted kidnapping. In addition, Trini Morado was charged with criminal damage to property and Steven Morado was charged with aggravated battery and criminal trespass to a residence.
Police allege that the Morados, along with a 14-year-old relative, kidnapped two teenage boys to lead them to a 15-year-old Riverside resident they suspected of burglarizing a Riverside apartment where their relatives lived.
A confrontation outside the 15-year-old’s home in the 200 block of East Burlington Street on Feb. 26 triggered several 911 calls to police, who apprehended the Morados at the scene.
In addition, their 15-year-old target was also charged with burglary and two felony drug possession counts after a search of the boy’s bedroom reportedly uncovered items taken in a Feb. 25 burglary in Riverside. Police also allegedly found prescription drugs and cannabis unrelated to the burglary.
The Morados’ 14-year-old relative was also charged with one count of kidnapping. The juvenile cases are being handled through Cook County Juvenile Court in Chicago.
Because the two teens in the case are charged as juveniles, the Landmark is not publishing their names. According to Riverside Detective Sgt. David Krull, the two juveniles were released to their parents after being charged.
-Bob Uphues
