Judge approves Antioch teen’s extradition to Wisconsin

Kyle Rittenhouse (left) walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 25, 2020, with another armed civilian. | Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, is charged with murder in connection with shootings during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

WAUKEGAN — A Lake County judge ruled Friday that an Antioch teen should be returned to Wisconsin where he is accused of killing two people and injuring another person during the Kenosha protests in August.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, is being held in the Lake County juvenile detention facility. On Friday, one of Rittenhouse’s attorneys, John Pierce, argued in a Waukegan courtroom there are “fundamental and fatal flaws” in the paperwork seeking to have his client returned to Wisconsin.

Lake County Judge Paul Novak rejected those arguments and order Rittenhouse’s extradition.

Among other things, Pierce said the details of the criminal compliant in the case should have been outlined under oath before a magistrate but that that didn’t happen in this case.

“That is game, set and match,” Pierce said.

Lake County Assistant State’s attorney Stephen Scheller argued that all of the paperwork is in order and there should be no delay in returning Rittenhouse to Wisconsin.

Pierce also referred to the charges against his client as political.

“I do believe to the bottom of my heart that this is a political prosecution,” Pierce said.

Rittenhouse, wearing a pale blue shirt and a dark tie, sat in the courtroom during the hearing but did not speak.

Rittenhouse was arrested at his Antioch home a day after prosecutors say he shot and killed two protesters and injured a third in Kenosha on Aug. 25 during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Blake, 29, was paralyzed in the shooting and is undergoing treatment at an Illinois rehabilitation clinic.

Rittenhouse is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two protesters and attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession for wielding a semi-automatic rifle in Wisconsin.

About two dozen Black Lives Matter protesters stood in front of the Lake County courthouse Friday morning.

Check back for updates. This is a developing story.