In his courtroom today Judge Thomas A. Meyer denied the request for a special prosecutor to investigate Sheriff Keith Nygren. Before Judge Meyer was a Motion to Dismiss the request for a special prosecutor, and he approved that request.
From the part of the proceedings I could hear, Zane Seipler's attorney from Chicago, Blake Horwitz, argued that the Office of the McHenry County State's Attorney could not effectively investigate and prosecute Sheriff Nygren, because they act as his attorney when they prosecute criminal charges brought by the Sheriff's Department and defend the Sheriff in civil actions. Horwitz argued that there is a conflict of interest that rises to the need for a Special Prosecutor to handle a case against Nygren.
The State's Attorney's position was argued by Don Leist of that office who, as I heard it, claimed the office could effectively prosecute Nygren and that a special prosecutor was not needed.
The hearing ran from about 10:30AM until Noon, when Judge Meyer declared a recess and said he would give his decision in 15 minutes. The judge was better than his word; he was back in 12 minutes.
I guess now we'll get to see whether Lou Biachi's office will investigate Nygren and prosecute him if the evidence is sufficient.
Nygren's Chief of Security at the courthouse, Howard Parth, was in the courtroom for the entire hearing (did he expect trouble in the courtroom?), and Keith Nygren was there, too. I wondered whether he was there in his official capacity (will he have to investigate any wrongdoing brought forward?) or if he there personally and, if so, if he clocked out and charged the two hours against personal leave time or vacation.
Mark Gummerson dropped by, too, and was accompanied by a man who was identified to me as a person who might be interested in running for State's Attorney. They sat at the lawyers' tables "up front", although they didn't have business with Judge Meyer today. As they left, this second man glanced back toward Sheriff Nygren a couple of times and nodded. You know, wink, wink.
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4 comments:
And you don't know the name of the potential SA candidate? :-(
Gus,
In this section and again in another you mention Nygren taking leave time or being on duty.
Such as the next from which I QUOTE: AH-HA!!! Political activity during working hours! >>There's a good reason why I remember that date and time. And the Woodstock Police Department documented it.
As I recall, you were the man that wanted to be king yet do not seem to understand that as SHERIFF, he does not get designated leave time etc. He can come and go as he pleases and is not required to punch a time clock or answer for his time. He is a yearly salaried official. If he wants to work a two day week he can. As long as his office is staffed and open, he meets the legal requirement.
Of course Parth would be there. He is the head of security and I'm sure he wants to see for himself what goofiness Zane comes up with.
Justin, you and I both can guess (or know) that the only reason for Parth to do there was curiousity or being nosy. I cannot see any legitimate work-related reason for him to spend two-plus hours in Judge Meyer's courtroom, sitting there with Nygren.
Was he providing "security" for Nygren? I doubt it.
Was he there to keep order? I doubt it.
Since Parth is the head guy in Security, I guess he can spend his day anywhere in the building.Sitting there is as good as being in his office. Nygren was part of the court motion so I would expect him to be there.
Since you were there, did you and him blow kisses to each other? I would just love to have been a mouse in the corner to hear the comments as you guys were there.
I just love sweet moments like that.
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