Judge Denies Bond for Olaska, Saying He Poses Threat to the Community

Judge Kathryn E. Creswell has denied bond for , who is charged in the stabbing death of . 

Olaska appeared before the judge Friday morning after the prosecutor asked for either an increase or revocation of bond.

Creswell said Olaska “poses a real and present threat to the community." Though he could be placed on house arrest and monitored with a GPS bracelet, she said that would not keep him from fleeing.

“There are no conditions or combination of conditions that would reasonably secure the safety of the community,” Creswell said. “The court finds to deny bond.”

A hearing was held Feb. 17 to determine if bond should be increased or revoked, but defense attorney Brian Telander had asked that the hearing be continued.

Bond was originally set at $3 million for Olaska, 27, of the 1500 block of Fox Hill Drive in Naperville. But, that was before police gathered other information from witnesses who were at the scene of the incident Feb. 4.

Olaska was charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder after a fight at  early Feb. 4. Naperville elementary teacher Shaun Wild died as a result of his injuries. Lemont native and North Central College senior was also injured and discharged from  several days after the attack. A bouncer was also injured in the incident.

The events of the night

Creswell’s decision stemmed from testimony presented during the hearing Friday. The prosecutor offered additional details of Olaska’s alleged behavior the night of the stabbings.

The prosecutor Demetri Demopoulos stated that on the night of the incident, Olaska had arrived at the bar with a friend. He started out drinking wine and switched to beer, according to prosectors. During the course of the evening, the prosecutor said he was acting belligerent to other customers. 

“By all accounts, he was looking for trouble,” Demopoulos said.

Demopoulos went on to state that witnesses later told police that Olaska had been following two women around at the bar, harassing them. He allegedly used extreme profanity and expletives toward one of the women.

Demopoulos said Olaska brought his knife out earlier in the evening, flipping open the blade while talking to a man about a woman with whom they had both danced. 

Olaska also began making fun of the shirt Hayes was wearing, according to Demopoulos. The men ended up seated across from one another in a booth at the bar during the evening, and at one point even shook hands, the prosecutor said. However, roughly six minutes later, surveillance videos show Shaun Wild entered the picture and things took a turn.

“Olaska takes a drink, getting the courage up for what he is about to do, and lunges forward,” Demopoulos said. Olaska then sliced Wild's arm, hit Hayes in the chest, and continued to taunt Hayes while holding the knife after stabbing him, the prosecutor said.

When Wild put his hand on Olaska's shoulder and turned him around, the prosecutor said Olaska buried the blade into Wild’s chest.

When the bouncer Raphael Castaneda went to attempt to subdue Olaska, he also was stabbed, according to reports.

The prosecutor said Olaska fell to the floor, claiming he was the one who had been stabbed, and began crawling to the stairs where people were attempting to flee the bar. Olaska was pushing his way down the stairs covered in blood, when officers on their way up stopped him, identified him as the man involved in the stabbing and fought to control him, according to the prosecutor.

After Olaska was taken into custody, he threatened the transporting officer saying “You’re going to get yours,” Demopoulos said.

The judge's decision

Noting that Friday's court date was only a hearing, not a trial, Olaska’s attorney Brian Telander told the judge the prosecution could not know what Olaska had been thinking the night of the incident. Telander said Olaska has no past criminal history, comes from a well-educated family, and is Christian with strong ties to the community.

“These three guys come up to him [Olaska] and confront him and tease him … clearly he is not the aggressor. They are there causing trouble,” Telander said, also insinuating the men might have called Olaska by derogatory epithets.

Telander said Olaska was not a flight risk and even if his family could secure the $3 million bond, he wouldn’t flee and leave them owing $300,000.

The prosecution pointed out that Olaska had purchased several firearms within the last six months, including a Russian-style rifle, a high-powered assault rifle sometimes used by police, and a shot gun used for trap shooting. Telander said the weapons purchased by Olaska were meant for use shooting with his father and their church pastor.

“This is America,” Telander said. "As he sits there, he is presumed innocent."

In making her decision, Creswell said the state presented additional evidence not available at the time of the first bond hearing, which was held the day after the incident.

She also said the prosecution had provided additional evidence about Olaska’s behavior toward others in the bar, including harassing and using profanity to women, pulling out the knife and threatening a man.

“The proof is evident, this is a non-probational offense,” Creswell said.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin attended the hearing and said the State’s Attorney’s Office was pleased with the judge's decision.

“Obviously we feel it is the right decision based on the evidence,” Berlin said.

Both Wild and Olaska had friends and family in attendance at the hearing. Wild's mother, Jami Wild, said the family was “very happy” with the decision.

The Wild family issued personal news releases after the hearing.

“The loss of Shaun due to this evil, cowardly and senseless attack has had a devastating affect on both family and friends,” Bruce Wild, Shaun’s father, said in a release. “We are struggling every day to find a new way to live that will honor Shaun’s memory in a meaningful, positive and inspirational way. 

“… Our prayer is that the example he set will be an inspiration to those he knew; and they will carry his message for caring and compassion as they continue his mission of reaching out to others and sharing a smile. 

“As this senseless tragedy has taught us, we have much work to do.”