John Gibbons Joins McHenry County State's Attorney's Office

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that John Gibbons has joined the office as an assistant state’s attorney handling narcotics prosecution. He will report to Criminal Division Chief, Michael Combs.

Mr. Gibbons completed his Juris Doctor at Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2004. After graduation, Mr. Gibbons joined the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office where he served as an assistant state’s attorney for the past ten years. While in Winnebago County, Mr. Gibbons litigated over 25 felony jury trials as a first or second chair, including 12 first degree murder cases. He served in the Gang Unit, the Narcotics Unit, the Firearms Prosecution Unit and the Cold Case Investigations Unit. Mr. Gibbons has been admitted by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Capital Litigation Trial Bar with a lead counsel certification.

Mr. Gibbons brings extensive experience prosecuting narcotics, gang and violent crimes cases and will prove to be an excellent addition to the felony trial team. Mr. Gibbons is a member of the Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association and he will continue in that capacity as he joins the narcotics unit of this office.

Please welcome John as he arrives and begins his career in public service on behalf of the People of McHenry County.

Victim/Witness Coordinator Joins McHenry County State's Attorney Office

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Margaret (Meg) Cooney has joined the office as a Victim/Witness Coordinator.  She will report to First Assistant, Norman Vinton.

Ms. Cooney completed her Masters of Social Work at Loyola University of Chicago and possesses a double-major Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement Justice Administration and Spanish.  Meg studied abroad at Universidad de Salamanca in Spain and at the Cuauhnáhuac Spanish Language Institute in Mexico.  She speaks and writes Spanish proficiently.

Ms. Cooney brings diverse work and internship experiences to the State’s Attorney’s Office from UCAN Chicago (Bilingual Foster Care Case Manager), Illinois Department of Children and Family Services of Woodstock and Chicago Youth Center.

Meg is a Licensed Social Worker, a Licensed Child Welfare Worker, and has completed her Domestic Violence 40-hour Training.

Please welcome Meg as she arrives and begins her career in public service on behalf of the People of McHenry County.

McHenry County State's Attorney Elected Officer Of Illinois State's Attorneys Associations

“It is a great honor and tremendous opportunity to have been nominated and elected by my peers to serve as Second Vic-President of the Executive Committee of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association.”

That was the statement made by McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi upon his election to the office on the statewide State’s Attorneys Association at its 75^th annual conference held recently in Chicago.

The Illinois State’s Attorneys Association is a bi-partisan organization composed of State’s Attorneys throughout the State. The purpose of the organization is to promote the orderly administration of justice and the enforcement of the law.

Bianchi continues to serve on the Association’s Legislative Committee which reviews and initiates legislation designed to more effectively prosecute criminals and prevent crime.

“I look forward to advancing the important work of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association” says Bianchi.

Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Of A Child-Conviction

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Robert Lucht, 56, formerly of Lake in the Hills, was sentenced to 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for three counts of the offense of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of the offense of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. The Defendant was found guilty at a jury trial on October 3, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Lake in the Hills Police Department. The victim of the assaults was an 11 year old child who was admitted to a hospital for suicidal intentions and for harming herself. She then reported that she had been sexually assaulted by the defendant multiple times between the ages of seven and nine.

When the defendant was confronted with the allegations by the police he gave a written confession admitting he assaulted the child. The case was prosecuted by Sharyl Eisenstein and Michael Combs, Chief of the Criminal Division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office

New Member Of McHenry County State's Attorney Office

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Daniel J. Wilbrandt has joined the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office as an assistant state’s attorney in the Criminal Division effective November 5, 2012.

Daniel has received tremendous hands-on experience by interning in the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office for the past three years.  During that time, he tried 26 cases, wrote and argued numerous motions, and drafted countless research memos. 

Daniel received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from The John Marshall Law School of Chicago, Illinois, in June, 2012.  While in law school, Daniel wrote for The John Marshall Law Review, acted as a teaching assistant in Lawyering Skills/Legal Writing, and was a semi-finalist in the Dean Fred F. Herzog Moot Court Competition.  Daniel received his undergraduate degree in Speech Communication, Pre-Law in May, 2006, and his M.A. in Communication, May 2009, from the University of Illinois

Sentence - 21 Years - Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault Of A Child

Following a two-hour jury deliberation, 56-year old Robert Lucht, formerly of Lake-in-the-Hills, was found guilty of three counts of the offense of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of the offense of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, in announcing the jury verdict reports that the victim of the offense of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child was an 11-year old girl who was admitted to a hospital for suicidal intentions and for harming herself.

She then reported that she had been sexually assaulted by the defendant multiple times between the ages of seven and nine. When the defendant was confronted with the allegations by the police he gave a written confession admitting he had assaulted the child. The defendant will be sentenced on November 20 at 1:30 pm and faces a minimum sentence of 21 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The case was prosecuted by Sharyl Eisenstein and Michael Combs, Chief of the Criminal Division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. 

Setting A Residential Fire Can Result In Serious Charges

Carrie Gil, 46, formerly of Crystal Lake, was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of Attempt 1^st Degree Murder and 12 years for Aggravated Arson.

The sentences will run concurrently and the Defendant will be required to serve 85% of the sentencing term pursuant to truth in sentencing provisions.

McHenry County State’s Attorney, in making the announcement, notes that the case was investigated by the Crystal Lake Police and Fire Departments with assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office as well as the United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Illinois State police provided experts to explain the use of an accelerant to start the fire and to associate paint from inside the residence to graffiti on the garage and screen doors outside the house.

The investigation also revealed multiple death spells within the defendant’s laptop computer which matched verbatim with handwritten notes linked to the defendant by a forensic document examiner from the Illinois State Police.

The case was prosecuted by David Johnston and Sharyl Eisenstein of the McHenry County States Attorney’s Office.

Theft From Employer

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Clarissa Schauer, 40, of Cary was sentenced today to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class 1 felony offense of Theft.

Between December 12, 2005 and September 17, 2009 Schauer knowingly obtained unauthorized control over $185, 741.48 from the company World Trans International. 

During this period of time the Defendant was an employee of World Trans International.  Her responsibilities included dispersing checks to vendors of the company.  Over the course of her employment, the Defendant issued numerous checks to herself and not to the designated vendors, resulting in the permanent deprivation to World Trans of the aforementioned amount.

Schauer was also ordered to pay the full amount in restitution to the Company, although she was only able to produce a small portion of the restitution prior to sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Algonquin Police Department and was prosecuted by Robert Zalud and David Johnston of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Third Time Is Not Always A Charm

 The saying that the “the third time is a charm” does not always hold true.

Thirty-five year old Kenneth Smith was recently sentenced, for the third time, to 67 years in prison for first degree murder and attempted armed robbery which took place March 6, 2001 at the Burrito Express Restaurant, McHenry.  

Smith was found guilty in 2003, and again in 2008. Both times, a McHenry County jury convicted Smith of shooting Breseno with a 22 caliber pistol in the course of robbing the restaurant.

Both convictions were overturned by an Illinois Appellate Court. On February 29, 2012 a third jury convicted  Smith of the crime bringing the total of 36 people of this community who heard the evidence and were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of his guilt.

Today, Judge Sharon Prather once again sentenced the defendant to a term of 67 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of first degree murder with a concurrent seven-year sentence for the offense of attempted armed robbery.

Under truth in sentencing guidelines the defendant must serve the entire 67 years before he is eligible for parole.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Combs, David Johnston and David Metrick and was investigated by the City of McHenry Police Department with the assistance of the McHenry Investigative Assistance Team.

Victim Witness Representative Added To McHenry County State's Attorney's Staff

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office is adding a Victim Witness Representative to the staff.

State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi announces that Arceli “Celi” Alvarez will join the office on April 16 in that capacity. Ms. Alvarez’s duties will include advocating for and coordinating with victims of violent crimes.

Celi joins the State’s Attorney’s Office from the Woodstock law firm of Michling Hofmann Plaza & Wick, P.C. where she has spent the last ten years as a legal assistant responsible for client relations, client and witness interviews, testimony coordination and court scheduling.

She was responsible for the Spanish-Speaking  Community Outreach Program and is fluent speaking and writing in Spanish and in English/Spanish translation.

Celi is an active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church and is a youth mentor at St. Joseph’s Church in Harvard and St. Mary’s in Woodstock. She resides in Woodstock with her three children. 

Former County Prosecutor Returns Following Experience On The Defense Side

Attorney Robert J. Zalud is being welcomed back to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office.

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, says Zalud will return to McHenry County prosecutors office on Monday, April 9. He will be working as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Felony Criminal Division.

Robert received his Juris Doctorate in 2008 from Northern Illinois University College of Law and his B.A. from Marquette University. He began his career working for the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office responsible for prosecuting cases at the felony and misdemeanor levels, ranging from traffic offenses to Class X felonies.

Mr. Zalud worked in the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s from June 2010 to August 2011 and prosecuted domestic violence and DUI offenses. He has most recently worked in private practice where he gained experience defending criminal cases. Mr. Zalud has personally tried 35 jury trials in his career and 25 of those were as a prosecutor. Mr. Zalud’s diverse legal experience will be an asset to our felony trial division.

McHenry County State's Attorney Takes Legal Action Against Street Gangs

Gangs continue to survive, ever present in our streets, parks and schools. McHenry County State’s Attorney Louise I. Bianchi is using a strong tool to combat the existence of street gangs and thwart gang-related criminal activity.

Bianchi announced today that his office has filed a civil lawsuit against the Latin Kings street gang under the Illinois Street Gang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act.

While the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has previously prosecuted individual gang members, this initiative seeks to destroy the infrastructure of the gang and promote zero tolerance of gang-related activity.

The Act, passed in 1993 by the Illinois General assembly, recognizes that the activities of street gangs operating throughout Illinois present a clear and present danger to public order and safety; a danger which no society should be required to endure without recourse.

This injunctive lawsuit is a strong tool to combat the existence of street gangs and thwart gang-related criminal activity. The lawsuit seeks to classify Latin Kings members as members of a “street gang,” as defined by the Act, and seeks to stop identified gang members from associating with each other, possessing or discharging firearms, using, possessing, delivering or manufacturing illegal or controlled substances, directing or participating in assaults and batteries, and applying gang graffiti to public or private property. In addition to injunctive relief, monetary damages, and any other relief considered equitable and proper by the court are sought.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney would like to thank the City of Harvard, and all Harvard Police detectives, officers, and staff for their dedication to public safety, hard work, preparation, and cooperation with the State’s Attorney’s Office. We hope that this collaboration will encourage further cooperation amongst various law enforcement and community agencies to bring an end to street gangs in our communities. 

McHenry County's Political Drama

A drama is unfolding in McHenry County that has been ongoing since the 2004 Republican Primary Election for McHenry County State’s Attorney. It could also have been precipitated prior to that date.

It has now reached the point where those who have reportedly been wronged are retaliating.

A lawsuit was recently filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division by Louis, A Bianchi, Joyce A. Synek, Ronald J. Salgado, and Michael J. McCleary against Henry C. Tonigan, III, Thomas K. McQueen, Daniel Jerger, Robert Scigalski, James Reilly, Patrick Hanretty, Richard Stilling, Quest Consultants International, Limited, an Illinois Corporation, Kelleher & Buckley LLC, an Illinois Limited Liability Company, and Unknown Co-Conspirators.

By way of explanation, Jerger, Scigalski, Reilly, Hanretty, Stilling are employees of Quest Consultants, International.

As the complaint explains, the “action is brought pursuant to the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and under Illinois State Law.”

According to the lengthy complaint filed by McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, and three of the employees of the State’s Attorney’s Department, including Administrative Assistant to Bianchi, Joyce A. Synek; investigators for the department, Michael J. McCleary and Ronald J. Salgado, defendants Scigalski, Reilly, Hanretty, and Stilling were employees of Quest Consultants, International, retained by Tonigan and McQueen who were appointed by McHenry County as Special State’s Attorneys.  They were to investigate allegations made against Bianchi, Synek, Salgado and McCleary. All investigations were at the expense of McHenry County.

The investigation was precipitated by the 2004 General Election in which Bianchi unseated the incumbent State’s Attorney Gary Pack. The results of that election and following elections are as follows:

2004-MARCH REPUBLICAN PRIMARY-
Glenn Gable			9,738
Louis Bianchi			16,286
Ray Flavin			2,313
2004 MARCH DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
No candidates
2004 NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
Louis Bianchi- R-- Only candidate			101,948
2008-FEBRUARY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Daniel J. Regna			12,435
Louis Bianchi			16,288
2008 FEBRUARY  DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
no official candidates
2008 NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
Louis Bianchi - R			79,764
Thomas Cynor - D*			49,248
(*Candidate as result of Democratic March caucus)
2012 MARCH REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Louis A. Bianchi
2012 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
No Candidate Filed

A complaint has been filed in the United State District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The plaintiffs include Louis A. Bianchi, Joyce A. Synek, Ronald J. Salgado, and Michael J. McCleary.

The complaint spells out allegations against defendants Henry C. Tonigan, III, Thomas K. McQueen, Daniel Jerger, Robert Scigalski, James Reilly, Patrick Hanretty, Richard Stilling, Quest Consultants International, Limited and Kelleher & Buckley LLC.

If the allegations made by the plaintiffs’ lawsuit are true it presents a sad situation. That is one matter, but as in journalism and all legal allegations, there are at least two sides.

A sizeable amount of money has been paid to investigators Tonigan, McQueen, and Quest Consultants International, employer of Jerger, Scigalski, Reilly, Hanretty and Stilling. All was precipitated by allegations that political work was being done in the State’s Attorney’s office by paid employees, as well as allegations of favoritism given to supposed friends, relatives and supports of the State’s Attorney’s office. 

As it was shown, those mentioned in the allegations were not related to anyone in the State’s Attorney’s office.

McHenry County has been responsible for paying those bills, although there is insurance to cover this.

If the allegations made in the District Court case are true, that it is a sad commentary on what can be expected from individuals supposedly involved in investigative work on behalf of the public. This includes investigators as well as the judiciary.

As a comment from this writer, who has watched McHenry County politics since mid-1960s (with time out for to earn a better living by working in the legal field, and attending Penn State graduate school) things do not seem to have changed too much as to the lengths that disgruntled politics can be taken. Also, we have found that politics can cause the same or similar situations in other parts of the country. 

Sentence Of Over Five Decades For Criminal Sexual Assault and Child Pornography

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that John “Jack” Reed, 35, of Cary, was found guilty Wednesday, November 16, 2011, of multiple counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and Child Pornography. 

The defendant was charged with having sexual contact with a female relative over several months.  The victim was a minor at the time of the offenses.  During the trial, the jury was shown four separate videotaped encounters that contained multiple acts of sexual penetration.  Those videotaped images were recovered from the defendant’s laptop computer and were later analyzed by a forensic computer laboratory.  Additionally, the jury heard testimony from two other eye-witnesses to sexual acts between the defendant and the victim.

After approximately three hours of deliberations, the jury found the defendant guilty of ten counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and four counts of Child Pornography.  The Honorable Judge Joseph Condon sentenced Reed to 55 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.  This case was investigated by Sergeant Parsons of the Woodstock Police Department and forensic analysis was conducted by Amy Maskiewicz of the Chicago Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Sharyl Eisenstein and Michael Combs.

New Member Of McHenry County State's Attorney Office

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that  David  Christopher Mellem has joined the McHenry County  State’s Attorney’s Office as an assistant state’s attorney.

 

David Christopher Mellem graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in May of 2011.  

While in law school, David was the Executive Editor of the Michigan Journal of Race and Law. David’s past legal experience includes working as a legal intern for the   Federal   Trade Commission in the Bureau of Consumer Protection and working as a student attorney for the Washtenaw County Public Defender in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Prior to his joining the State’s Attorney’s Office, David was employed by the City of Chicago in its Department of Law.  David will be assigned to the Civil Division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Sovereign Citizenship Did Not Prevent A Jury Conviction

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, announces that Hugh McGinley of Woodstock was convicted of Criminal Trespass to a Residence following a January 3, 2011 jury trial. 

The evidence at trial revealed that on June 15, 2011 deputies from the sheriff’s department responded to a trespassing complaint at 10403 Arabian Trail, Woodstock. The owner of the residence advised police that Hugh McGinley, a former tenant who had been evicted in September 2010, illegally moved back inside the home.

The evidence further revealed that McGinley had changed the locks on the residence and placed no trespassing signs on the home. He further told the deputies that all McHenry County judges were not doing their job correctly and needed to be arrested. He claimed that he was a “sovereign citizen” and that the members of the jury were not his peers. He also asserted a right to remain in the home and claimed that he was not bound to obey the court order which evicted him.

This case was investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Maggie Tracz and Randi Freese.

New Chief of McHenry County State's Attorney Criminal Division

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office has a new Chief of the Criminal Division beginning January 3, 2012.

State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi announces that Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs has been promoted to Chief of the Criminal Division for the State’s Attorney’s Office. He replaces Philip Hiscock who is leaving the State’s Attorney’s Office to pursue an opportunity with the Federal Government of the United States.

Combs is a seasoned felony prosecutor, who was previously assigned to the Special Prosecution Unit of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office handling high profile cases and cases involving complex evidentiary issues. Combs was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999, and was admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois as a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar in 2007.

Michael Combs is a 1996 graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and a 1999 graduate of New York Law School in New York, New York. Prior to his arrival at the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Combs served as First Assistant in the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office supervising and training attorneys and support staff.

He also served as team leader of the felony trial team in the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office and acted as first chair in 35 jury trials, including four First Degree Murder trials, all resulting in convictions. Combs also tried 40 jury trials as an Assistant Public Defender in the Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office. 

McHenry County State's Attorney Bianchi Will Speak To Grafton Township Seniors On Tuesday

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, will Speak to the Senior Citizens of Grafton Township on Tuesday, December 13, at 11:00 a.m. The location is the American Legion, 11712 Coral Street, Huntley.

Linda Moore, Grafton Township Supervisor, reports that State’s Attorney Bianchi, along with Assistant State’s Attorney, Andrew Miller, will speak about the workings of the State’s Attorney’s Office. 

Two LITH Women Sentenced For Involuntary Servitude Of A Minor

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney,  announces that Kari Knox, 38, of Lake in the Hills and Antwanette Atkins, 44, of Lake in the Hills were each sentenced today to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the  class  X felony offense of Involuntary Servitude of a Minor following an August 2011 jury trial.

The evidence at trial revealed that on December 31, 2009, Kari Knox and Antwanette Atkins actively participated in arranging for a 14 year old girl from Kansas to engage in prostitution. Knox photographed the minor in various poses and then uploaded the photographs to the internet.

Knox also provided clothing for the victim to wear and drove the victim to two separate suburban locations where the minor engaged in sexual acts.  Atkins posed with the minor in some of the photos, talked with the minor about how to detect if the men were police officers, told her how to interact with the men, and took phone calls to obtain addresses for the males responding to the internet posting.

This case was investigated by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant  State’s Attorney Sharyl Eisenstein.

Cary Man Found Guilty Of Criminal Sexual Assault and Child Pornography

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that John “Jack” Reed, 35, of Cary, was found guilty Wednesday, November 16, 2011, of multiple counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and Child Pornography. 

The defendant was charged with having sexual contact with a female relative over several months.  The victim was a minor at the time of the offenses.  During the trial, the jury was shown four separate videotaped encounters that contained multiple acts of sexual penetration.  Those videotaped images were recovered from the defendant’s laptop computer and were later analyzed by a forensic computer laboratory.  Additionally, the jury heard testimony from two other eye-witnesses to sexual acts between the defendant and the victim.

After approximately three hours of deliberations, the jury found the defendant guilty of ten counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and four counts of Child Pornography.  The Defendant faces a minimum sentence of 44 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.  This case was investigated by Sergeant Parsons of the Woodstock Police Department and forensic analysis was conducted by Amy Maskiewicz of the Chicago Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Sharyl Eisenstein and Michael Combs.