Lake County judges hand down prison terms in Highland Park beach beating death

Nicholas Caban will serve 18 years in prison and Jacob Firestone will serve 14 years for the death of a Highland Park resident, a Lake County judge ruled on Tuesday. The sentences fall just below the 20-year maximum for second-degree murder, a charge the men faced after an April jury found them guilty.

The underlying incident occurred on the night of Sept. 17, 2022, at the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve. Ascaridis, a businessman and father, went outside around 1 a.m. to address neighbors who were making noise on the lakeshore. A passerby discovered his body partially submerged in the water approximately four hours later and contacted emergency services.

Caban and Firestone also called 911 shortly after the discovery. They claimed to need medical attention and stated they had been involved in a confrontation with Ascaridis earlier that night. Both were transported to a hospital for treatment. Investigators later obtained a search warrant for Caban's residence, where they located a firearm with a defaced serial number.

Initial arrests focused on felony weapons charges for Caban and obstruction charges for Firestone. Charges against both men for the killing followed in March 2023. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors pointed to a display of defiance by Caban. They noted he raised his middle finger toward the audience immediately after the verdict was read, arguing the gesture demonstrated a lack of remorse.

Both men are currently held at the Lake County Jail. They await transfer to a state prison facility to begin serving their respective sentences.