Harassment at courthouse must stop!

This morning I witnessed overt harassment at the McHenry County Courthouse (Government Center) and had to wonder why the courthouse security officers didn't stop it. (Psst... I'll tell you why they didn't stop it - they were the ones doing it!)

When Scott Milliman and his mother (and other family members) entered this courthouse for today's hearings that pertain to his brother's killing on May 29, Scott and his mother were stopped and given special scanning - even though they passed through the scanner without triggering an alarm.

A court security guard was waiting for them. When he saw them come through the doors, he got ready. As Scott walked through the scanner, he was stopped for the extra search. The guard was polite, and I'm sure he was only doing what he had been ordered to do.

Scott's mother was also searched with the wand.

What are we dealing with here? Since when do the relatives of a victim of a heinous crime get specially selected for a wand search - and each time they enter the courthouse, since this happened last week, too.

Who would give the orders? Chief of Security Howard Parth. But would he do it on his own? Not likely. Would Undersheriff Zinke give the orders? who would tell Zinke to treat the Milliman relatives in this fashion? Where does Zinke get his marching orders?

Contrast this with what happened in the courtroom today, when Timothy Smith, charged with first-degree murder, was brought into the courtroom - not even in handcuffs! Or when Kimberly Smith, his wife, was brought in for her hearing. No handcuffs. Of course, she is not charged with being an accomplice or a co-conspirator with her husband on the murder charge. Some wonder why not!

Judge Prather read the charges to Timothy Smith and informed him that he is at risk of 45-Years-to-Life for a sentence, because a deadly weapon was used in the crime. Let's say it takes a year to convict him; he'll be 28. Add 45. He'll be 73 when he gets out, assuming no reduction in sentence or allowance for good behavior. Do you think he might be thinking pretty hard right now about everything that happened that night?

I myself don't think the whole story has been told yet - and maybe not even the true story yet.