Round Lake Beach man's murder conviction overturned because prosecution notes sent to jury in error

An appeals court reversed a Round Lake Beach man's murder conviction because a PowerPoint presentation prepared by prosecutors mistakenly was sent to jurors during their deliberations.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said the notes inadvertently were sent to the jury and his office will retry the case.

Lynell Glover was sentenced to 21 years in prison by a Lake County judge in May 2022 after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated assault for shooting twin 17-year-olds, killing one.

Prosecutors used the PowerPoint presentation during closing arguments. It contained audio and video clips as well as the prosecutor's notes, according to the appellate court ruling.

Initially, it was not included with the evidence jurors were able to review during deliberations. But before the second day of deliberations the presentation inadvertently was placed in with the other evidence that went to the jury, said Lake County Judge Mark Levitt, who presided over the criminal trial.

James Schwarzbach, one of Glover's attorneys, asked for a mistrial, which Levitt denied, according to court documents. The judge then told jurors closing arguments are not considered evidence and that they should continue deliberating.

Kristian Nordby, Glover's other attorney, said Friday he and Schwarzbach agree with the appellate court ruling.

"Obviously we don't think anyone is at fault for the scenario but when the PowerPoint went back to the jury we did think it was grounds for a mistrial," Nordby said.

Rinehart expressed regret over the mistake.

"We wish the PowerPoint had not been inadvertently sent back to the jury on the second day of its deliberations without the State or the defense knowing," Rinehart said in a statement Friday.

Sara Avalos, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office, said Glover remained in prison Friday but eventually will be brought back to Lake County jail for the usual pretrial court proceedings.

"Basically it's like starting from scratch," Avalos said.