A DuPage County judge has granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for Ernesto Granados, a 29-year-old Glendale Heights resident accused of stabbing his housemate. The decision was announced by DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Glendale Heights Chief of Police George Pappas.
Granados faces two counts of Home Invasion (Class X Felony), one count of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), and one count of Aggravated Battery (Class 3 Felony). The charges stem from an incident on February 28, 2026, when police responded to a disturbance at a residence on W. Wrightwood Avenue in Glendale Heights.
According to authorities, Granados allegedly broke into his housemate’s bedroom holding a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach before leaving the room. Police took Granados into custody at the scene, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The incident occurred about six hours after Granados had been released pre-trial following an earlier arrest for misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct related to another housemate at the same address. As part of his initial release conditions, he was ordered not to return to the property.
State’s Attorney Berlin stated: “As we all do, the victims in this case have every right to feel safe in their own home. Mr. Granados’ alleged violent actions on two separate occasions, however, have shattered that expectation of security his victims once enjoyed. Today’s charges against Mr. Granados, who was previously granted pre-trial release just six hours before he allegedly returned to the home and violated his conditions of pre-trial release, illustrate the need for the General Assembly to enact changes to the State’s Safe-T-Act to give judges more discretion at First Appearance Court. Too often, we are seeing offenders released pre-trial because the Act does not allow judges to use their discretion for certain offenses. I thank the Glendale Heights Police Department for their prompt response and apprehension of the defendant in this case and their ongoing commitment to public safety. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelsey Kerr and Anna Derkacz for their efforts in securing charges against Mr. Granados.”
Chief Pappas added: “This alleged senseless act of violence by Ernesto Granados should never have occurred. The loopholes in the Pretrial Fairness Act allegedly allowed Granados to prey on another housemate. Our thoughts are with those who were affected by this violent attack. I commend our officers on this case for their outstanding work in the identification and apprehension of the defendant. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Anna Dercakz and Kelsey Kerr for their tenacious effort and guidance in preparing a strong case against Granados. The DuPage County law enforcement agencies and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, are committed to protecting our residents and holding those accountable who threaten the safety of others.”
Granados is scheduled for his next court appearance on March 30, 2026.
Authorities remind that these are only charges; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
In other news related to DuPage County, recent data show that there were 142,363 students enrolled across county schools during the 2022-23 academic year with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 (source). Teacher absenteeism stood at 38.3% locally compared with Illinois’ average of 35.6% (source). Among area schools, York Community High School had the highest enrollment of white students with 1,844 students (source), Metea Valley High School had 162 multiracial students (source), Westmore Elementary recorded ten Pacific Islander students (source), while Addison Trail High School reported 1,259 Hispanic students (source).
