First a short article about the Ron Salgado case, which washed out the last court date.

Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s cases against McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, his Chief Investigator Rod Salgado and Investigator Mike McCleary staggered on today in Judge Joesph McGraw’s Rockford courtroom.

Missing, however, was Special Prosecutor Tonigan.

Substituting was Thomas McQueen.

While Salgado’s criminal case has already been dismissed, there was a motion to refund the $5,000 he was forced to provide in bond to get out of the McHenry County Jail, even though he had been granted a recognizance bond by a judge.

Besides that, there was a stunning revelation about the Salgado case.

McQueen had been told by Phil Hicsock, Chief of the Criminal Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office, that Hiscock didn’t believe Salgado had anything to do with the disposition of the Jeremy Reed case (in which) Reed (was given) four years (instead of six).

The principal accusation levied against Salgado was that he was responsible for his “nephew’s” getting a four-year, rather than a six-year sentence.

Turns out it wasn’t his nephew.

And today, it comes out that McQueen knew that charge had been contradicted by Hiscock, but the Special Prosecutor had failed to reveal that exculpatory information to Salgado.

After the hearing, Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl, said the Special Prosecutor violated a mandate that prosecutors reveal any evidence that could help a defendant’s case. Such information is called “Brady material.”

Ekl said the information had not been turned over during the discovery process of Salgado’s trial, even after a Motion to Compel.

“McQueen knew both in November and December and deliberately did not turn them of to his attorney,” Ekl said.

After the criminal cases are disposed of, Ekl said,

“There will be additional legal action. I promise it will not be pleasant for the Special Prosecutor and Quest.

“There will be a consequence to be paid for the misconduct that has happened here. I will not let this slide.”

That statement also referred to other revelations that occurred in court, which will be covered in another story.