People v. Mertens

Defendants Gordon Mertens, Sr., his wife Marcella Mertens, and his sons Robert Mertens, and Gordon Mertens, Jr., appeal their convictions by a McHenry County jury of nine counts of theft.

On December 12, 1974, a search warrant was issued for the defendants’ home located in Barrington Hills, Illinois. The warrant was executed that day and more than 400 items were seized as evidence. Two more warrants were issued and executed within the next three days and hundreds of other items were taken from the defendants’ home.

Each defendant was subsequently charged in a nine-count indictment with nine…