More than five years after a Bears Sunday turned violent in a Joliet living room, Denise O’Malley’s attempted-murder case is finally inching toward a resolution. O’Malley has spent little time behind bars since late 2020 after a cash bond reduction put her on electronic monitoring, but the charges remain serious. The next court date could be the turning point: a plea hearing that will determine whether both sides can strike a deal or head to trial.
Plea Hearing Set for Dec. 1
Court records list a plea-bargain hearing for Dec. 1 in Courtroom 502 before Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre. An Oct. 16 order from Will County Judge Joan Meyers also allowed O’Malley to retrieve personal belongings from the Brighton Lane home as the property goes up for sale, with coordination required through the listing agent and no contact with the complaining witness during showings and staging. Those steps appear in recent court filings, per the Will County Circuit Clerk.
Why the Will County Docket Has Dragged
Felony cases involving mental-health evaluations, treatment requests, and a steady stream of pretrial motions can take years to unwind. Will County’s online docket and judge calendars reflect that slower pace for complex matters, according to the Will County Circuit Clerk.
How the Shooting Unfolded, According to Court Testimony
Testimony in earlier hearings described a Sept. 13, 2020, incident in which O’Malley allegedly pointed a .357 revolver at her husband, retired Cook County Sheriff’s deputy John O’Malley, and fired while he watched a Bears game. He told the court he was shot in the left thigh and the upper chest and later recovered; police recovered the firearm from the home, according to court records. O’Malley was charged with attempted murder and related felonies, and filed a note stating a history of psychiatric diagnoses and that her bond was reduced so she could seek treatment, as reported by Patch.
Legal Next Steps
At the Dec. 1 hearing, prosecutors and the defense could present a plea resolving some or all counts, or ask for more time to keep negotiating. Any agreement would need a judge’s approval and could include treatment conditions, probation, or a custodial sentence, depending on which counts are resolved. For now, the set hearing date—and the recent retrieval order—are the clearest signs this long-running case may finally be nearing the finish line.
