Decisions, decisions ... government or court?

Today may be one of the last battles in Illinois over concealed carry. Do I watch and follow the "festivities" in Springfield via LiveStream and Facebook postings?

Or

Do I go to Judge Sharon Prather's court and observe the bench trial of Christopher Branham?

This trial may wind up the local steps in a case that made big news for a while and then dropped off the radar. This case involves allegations of drug possession and is the case in which McHenry County Sheriff's Department Detective Jason Novak had a very "interesting relationship" with the woman who was the initial source of information.

When you read the public documents on file with the Court already, you have to shake your head and wonder why the case is even going to trial. And why Novak isn't in jail.

Novak and the woman (referred to as a CI (Confidential Informant)) exchanged hundreds of text messages and cell phone calls prior to Branham's arrest. When the deputies were at Branham's house to search it, the CI apparently called Novak "Slick". Then, after he was arrested, the CI "somehow" ended up at Novak's house. The sex act that occurred there is described specifically in a document entered into court records months ago.

Was this case compromised by the "very special investigative techniques" of Det. Novak?

The Sheriff's Department handled that matter very quietly and as an administrative, not criminal, matter. Novak got ten days off without pay and was sent back to Patrol. When he went back to work, he may have gotten some quick overtime (to make up for pay loss?).

When deputies run afoul of duties and obligations (and those pesky things called General Orders and laws) at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, policies (guess who makes the policies) allow the sheriff to discipline a deputy with up to 30 days off, without going to the Merit Commission, a "public body" whose records are open. By avoiding the Merit Commission, the sheriff's department can keep matters under wraps.

Or try to.

The bench trial starts at 9:00AM.

I skipped yesterday's court date, guessing that the trial, if it wasn't continued, would start today. Wish I had gone, because I would have witnessed a rare escape attempt. Dylan Draut, of Fox River Grove, made a break for it. He got out of the courtroom (304) and down two floors to the lobby, where Court Security Officer Louis Schoen grabbed him.

I've written before about lax courtroom security. Maybe things will tighten up now, especially around the entrance and exit of defendants in custody. Too often the armed bailiff has his or her back to the door to the lock-up, exposing his weapon to the quick hands of any inmate entering the courtroom or returning to the jail.