Van Arsdale receives new judge for trial

Richard Van Arsdale III has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and one count of the unlawful delivery of cannabis.

Richard Van Arsdale III has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and one count of the unlawful delivery of cannabis.

By Dave Gong

DeKALB | The case for one of the men charged in the April 5 shooting of NIU linebacker Devon Butler has been assigned a new judge.

Phil Montgomery, DeKalb County Assistant State’s Attorney, said Judge William Brady will replace Judge Robbin Stuckert in presiding over the case against former NIU student Richard Van Arsdale III. According to the DeKalb County website, Brady is an associate judge for DeKalb County.

The case was referred to Judge Kurt Klein, the presiding circuit judge for DeKalb County, at a hearing Monday to be considered for re-assignment.

Van Arsdale appeared in court via closed-circuit television Monday for a status hearing, during which an attorney for Van Arsdale introduced the motion for the substitution of judges. 

Van Arsdale has been charged with attempted murder, along with a number of other charges, for his alleged role in a shooting at 1009 Aspen Court, during which Butler was shot. Police believe Van Arsdale was driving the vehicle involved in the shooting. Also charged is former NIU student Mark Orozco, who police believe to be the shooter.

Van Arsdale’s next court appearance has been scheduled for June 6.