The accused was there. The assistant state’s attorney was there. The judge was there. The sheriff’s deputies were there. The court reporter was there.
All that was missing the last time Sisto Brito had a court date was his defense attorney.
Roughly two hours after the court session began on Aug. 10, Brito’s name was finally called around 11:30 a.m.
A deputy walked into the holding area where inmates wait, fetched Brito, and led him into Court Room 110 at the Bridgeview Courthouse.
Brito is the Chicago man charged with murder in the death of a Blue Island resident following an argument outside a tavern in McCook in February 2024. He was arrested the next day and has remained in custody at Cook County Jail.
He is also charged with two counts of attempted murder.
Everyone connected with the case knows where to find Brito. It’s the big jail surrounded by barbed wire fences at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago.
But on Aug. 10, nobody knew where to find Brito’s defense attorney. “It happens,” an assistant state’s attoney said.
Damon Cheronis represents Brito. If Cheronis is unavailable, one of the lawyers in his firm typically appears. But not on Aug. 10.
After waiting a few moments, Circuit Court Judge John “Terry” Gallagher told Brito that the status hearing could not proceed without his attorney being present.
“We’ll see you here on Aug. 31,” Gallagher said.
A deputy escorted Brito out of the courtroom to await the bus ride back to Cook County Jail with other inmates.
Brito is charged with the murder of Morales Ricardo Lopez, who died Feb. 17, 2024. According to police, Brito shot Lopez following an argument and fight in the parking lot of a tavern at 47th Street and Joliet Avenue.
Police said words were exchanged between Brito and three men who objected to the way Brito had pulled into the parking lot. After the fight ended and tensions seemed to cool, Brito retrieved a gun from his car.
One man ran north on Joliet Avenue. Lopez and Daniel Nava Jr. ran south on Joliet Avenue toward Joliet Road. Brito followed and allegedly shot both men.
Nava was shot in the head and survived. That earned one of two attempted murder charge for Brito.
The rescheduled status hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 31 in Room 110 at Bridgeview Courthouse.