McHenry County Blog

The suit that had been virtually promised by McHenry County State Lou Bianchi during the two trials brought by Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen has been filed in Federal Court.

It outlines fifteen counts, which I’ll wade through this afternoon, so keep checking back, and asks for a jury trial.

Joining Bianchi in the 47-page suit are his assistant Joyce Synek and investigators Ron Salgado and Mike McCleary.

Besides Tonigan, McQueen and Quest, the following individuals are named:

• Daniel Jerger
• Robert Scigalski
• James Reilly
• Patrick Hanretty
• Richard Stilling
• Kellerer & Buckley, Ltd., and
• Unknown Conspirators

The plaintiffs charge they were “the victims of politically and financially motivated criminal investigations orchestrated by Defendants.”

The motivation?

“To remove Bianchi from office”

The method?

“Fabricating false criminal charges and prosecuting…despite the lack of probable cause or credible evidence.”

More specifically, in a general sense,

• manufacturing and presenting false evidence
• concealing exculpatory evidence
• presenting perjured testimony to a grand jury
• engaging in gross investigative and prosecutorial misconduct

“The conspiracy crumbled when Bianchi resisted pressure to resign from office and instead proceeded to trial…” which resulted in a directed verdict, the introduction continues before pointing out that Bianchi and Synek still “suffered significant and severe permanent damages.”

Next comes an extensive outline of the facts of the case, essentially, a timeline of when what happened. (As I read through it, I think it might be easier to follow if I highlight all of the names.)

It is quite long, but it’s all going up so you can read it the same way the judge and jury will:

Facts Common to All Counts of the Complaint

Background of the Conspiracy to Remove Bianchi from Office

9. In November of 2004, Plaintiff Bianchi was elected State’s Attorney of McHenry County after having previously defeated Glenn Gable in the March 2004 Republican primary.

10. Upon taking office on December 2, 2004, Bianchi promptly began reforming the SAO by inter alia:

(a) Eliminating the abuse of plea bargaining with politically connected defense attorneys;

(b) Increasing the amount of hours that all SAO employees were required to work each day;

(c) Refusing to give special deals to political operatives, contributors, and friends of the previous administration; and

(d) Terminating the employment of SAO employees who were unqualified or unwilling to competently perform their assignments.

11. As a result of these reforms, Bianchi frustrated political operatives in McHenry County who had obtained more favorable accommodations with the previous administration and other McHenry County departments.

12. In March of 2007, Bianchi announced his intention to run for re-election in the November 2008 State’s Attorney’s election.

13. Bianchi was opposed in the February 2008 Republican primary by Daniel Regna, a former assistant state’s attorney (ASA) under the previous administration, whom Bianchi had refused to hire.

14. The 2008 Republican primary campaign between Bianchi and Regna was highly contentious, and sharply divided supporters of Bianchi’s reforms and the political operatives who supported Regna in an effort to return the SAO to its prior mode of operation.

15. Bianchi won the February 2008 primary against Regna, prevailed again in the November general election, and in December of 2008, began his second term as State’s Attorney of McHenry County.

16. After failing in their efforts to legally remove Bianchi from office during the 2008 election, Bianchi’s political opponents initiated a politically motivated conspiracy to override the election and force Bianchi from office. The objective of this conspiracy was to arrest, indict, and publicly smear Bianchi, thereby causing him to resign his office, irreparably tarnish his public reputation, and allow his political opponents to install a State’s Attorney who would do their bidding.

The Manipulation of Amy Dalby and

the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor by Bianchi’s Political Enemies

17. From June 2004 until she resigned in July of 2006, Amy Dalby was employed as a secretary in the SAO.

18. Prior to resigning, Dalby stole approximately 5000 documents from a SAO computer, including confidential and sensitive documents concerning pending investigations and prosecutions.

19. Dalby stole the documents from the SAO at the suggestion of Kristen Foley, an ASA whom Bianchi had demoted from her position as Chief of the Civil Division. In the summer of 2007, Foley began actively working on the political campaign of Bianchi’s 2008 primary opponent, Daniel Regna.

20. In October 2007, Dalby gave the stolen documents to Kristen Foley for use in Regna’s campaign. Foley then disclosed the stolen documents to the media.

21. In November of 2007, Bianchi learned of the theft and petitioned a court to appoint a special prosecutor, independent of the SAO, to investigate, and if necessary, prosecute the responsible individual.

22. In March of 2009, Dalby was arrested and charged with six felony offenses. On or about June 1, 2009, Ms. Dalby pled guilty to computer tampering.

23. In the meantime, on February 23, 2009, in the Circuit Court of McHenry County, Daniel Regna filed a politically motivated petition to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Bianchi, alleging that Dalby performed political work while working in the SAO.

24. Likewise, on April 23, 2009, at the direction and/or with the assistance of Bianchi’s political enemies, Dalby herself filed a petition for appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate her allegation that she performed political work while working in the SAO from December of 2004 until July of 2006.

25. The three year statute of limitation on any allegations made in Amy Dalby’s petition expired no later than July 2009, three years after Dalby left the SAO. Nonetheless, on September 4, 2009, McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham granted Dalby’s petition to appoint a special prosecutor.

26. Judge Graham also granted McHenry County’s Petition to Intervene and allowed the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor’s Office to represent the interests of McHenry County in the matter.

27. On September 18, 2009, Judge Graham appointed Defendant Tonigan as a special state’s attorney and appointed Defendant McQueen to “assist” Tonigan.

28. Judge Graham’s order limited Defendants Tonigan and McQueen’s authority to investigating and/or prosecuting Dalby’s allegation that she performed political work at the SAO from December 2004 until July 2006.

29. The court file in the case appointing Defendants Tonigan and McQueen was later sealed and McHenry County, despite having an appearance on file, was not served with notice of a motion to seal the file and was not heard on the matter.

30. Furthermore, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen convinced Judge Graham, in an ex parte fashion, and without any input from McHenry County or its attorney, to compensate each of them at a rate of $250 an hour. This agreement violated 55 ILCS 5/3-9008, which, in order to avoid abuses of the public fisc, prohibits special state’s attorneys from exceeding the compensation of the elected state’s attorney, in a given year.

31. In October of 2009, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen interviewed Dalby and learned, by that time, at the very latest, that the statute of limitations barred any prosecution of Bianchi, or anyone else, for the allegations made by Dalby, even if true.

October-November 2009: Tonigan and McQueen Illegally Expand Their Investigation

32. Despite having a legal obligation to do so, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen did not terminate their investigation in October of 2009. Instead, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen unilaterally began an illegal taxpayer funded investigation into Bianchi and the SAO that grossly exceeded their limited legal authority. Defendants Tonigan and McQueen’s illegal investigation included misrepresenting themselves as special state’s attorneys and interviewing individuals regarding matters that far exceeded the scope of their limited appointment.

33. In order to continue the illegal investigation of Bianchi, fabricate a timely charge, and continue billing McHenry County exorbitant fees, in November of 2009, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen sought to expand their investigative authority. In order to conceal their conduct and prevent a challenge to the unwarranted expansion, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen decided not to properly petition the court, as required by Illinois law.

34. Instead, on November 18, 2009, Defendant Tonigan wrote Judge Graham an ex parte letter which, in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct, was not sent to the County or its attorney, who had an appearance on file in the case. Tonigan’s letter was written on the letterhead of his employer, Defendant Kelleher & Buckley.

35. In the letter, Defendant Tonigan claimed that he and Defendant McQueen had already interviewed a number of witnesses and based on those interviews asked Judge Graham to “expand the order defining the role of our investigation.”

36. In order to expand his authority and persuade Judge Graham that Bianchi should be investigated for crimes that were not time-barred, Defendant Tonigan’s letter contained the following blatantly false statements regarding Bianchi:

(a) Dalby stated that she trained her successor [Joyce Synek], to perform political work on County time;

(b) There is a likelihood Synek provided secretarial services for Bianchi’s political interests on County time at least until September or October of 2007;

(c) Witnesses provided information about possible illegal acts by Bianchi related to his misuse or theft of County funds; and

(d) A witness indicated that Bianchi utilized County vehicles for his personal and political use.

37. Based upon those false representations, on January 7, 2010, Judge Graham signed an order, provided by Defendant Tonigan, granting Defendants Tonigan and McQueen the authority to investigate and prosecute Bianchi and “any and all persons” relative to any misappropriation or theft from “2005 and thereafter.”

December 2009-May 2010 Investigation: The Special Prosecutors and Quest Investigators Collaborate to Fabricate Evidence

38. Around December of 2009, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen retained an investigative firm, Defendant Quest, to investigate Bianchi. A billing arrangement was determined and agreed to, on an ex parte basis, by Defendant Tonigan, Defendant Quest, and Judge Graham, without any participation by McHenry County, the entity that was ordered to pay Defendant Quest’s bills. It was determined that each of Defendant Quest’s employees would be billed at an exorbitant rate for police investigators of $135 an hour, with the exception of Defendant Jerger, whose time was to be billed at the unheard of rate of $250 an hour.

39. After being appointed as special investigators, Quest employees, including, but not limited to, Defendants Jerger, Scigalski, Reilly, Hanretty, and Stilling (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Quest Investigators”) participated, with Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, in a wide ranging politically and financially motivated investigation of Bianchi and the SAO.

40. Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, the Quest investigators, and other as yet unnamed co-conspirators, met and agreed, through explicit and/or implicit means, to manufacture and fabricate evidence for the purpose of removing Bianchi from office by charging and prosecuting Bianchi and other SAO employees for criminal offenses, despite the lack of probable cause or credible evidence.

41. In furtherance of that agreement, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen interviewed individuals for the purpose of obtaining rumor and hearsay information to support their predetermined decision to prosecute Bianchi and remove him from office.

42. Defendants Tonigan and McQueen also directed the Defendant Quest Investigators to conduct certain interviews for the purpose of manufacturing and fabricating evidence.

43. The Defendant Quest Investigators represented themselves to witnesses as McHenry County Special Investigators who had been engaged by Defendant Tonigan to conduct an investigation into the official misconduct in the SAO.

44. After conducting interviews, the Defendant Quest Investigators informed Defendants Tonigan and McQueen of information related during the interviews.

45. After consulting with Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, the Defendant Quest Investigators prepared reports regarding certain interviews. In furtherance of their conspiratorial agreement with Defendants Tonigan and McQueen and in an effort to manufacture and fabricate evidence against Bianchi and other SAO employees, the Defendant Quest Investigators knowingly included false and manufactured information in their reports of interviews, to wit:

a) Defendant Scigalski falsely reported that former ASA William Dennison stated that:

i) Bianchi held campaign meetings during working hours that were attended by SAO employees;

ii) Bianchi had an assistant, Jamie Rein, walking around the office selling tickets to his fundraiser; and

iii) Bianchi allowed SAO employees to leave the office early the day of his fundraiser because he wanted attorneys to arrive early.

b) Defendant Scigalski and/or Defendant Reilly falsely reported that former ASA Nichole Owens stated that:

i) Bianchi used SAO employees to attend lunch time “political campaign committee meetings”;

ii) Bianchi’s campaign committee members were responsible for political activities in the SAO; and

iii) Expos (community sponsored public information forums) were used to promote Bianchi and comp time (paid time off) should not have been given to ASAs for attendance.

c) Defendant Reilly falsely reported that former ASA Mary McClellan stated that:

i) Former ASA Michelle Courier ran the Bianchi campaign out of her office.

d) Defendant Scigalski and/or Defendant Stilling falsely reported that ASA Jamie Rein stated that:

i) The entire SAO was asked to attend a Bianchi fundraiser;

ii) She was told her lack of attendance at a fundraiser might affect her career;

iii) Attendance at expos by ASAs was mandatory and the expos were held to provide a political advantage to Bianchi; and

iv) She received comp time for attending a Bianchi’s fundraiser.

46. All of the former and current ASAs described in paragraph 45 (a-d) have confirmed that they did not make any of the statements attributed to them in Defendants’ false reports.

May-August 2010: The Special Prosecutors Engage in Gross Misconduct in Connection With the Special Grand Jury.

47. On April 9, 2010, Judge Graham convened a special grand jury and also appointed, at taxpayers expense, fifteen (15) Quest investigators as agents of the special grand jury, including Defendants Jerger, Scigalski, Reilly, Hanretty, and Stilling.

48. After the special grand jury was convened, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen continued to lead the politically motivated investigation by interviewing witnesses personally and directing the Quest investigators who to interview, what questions to ask, and what information to document.

49. The Defendant Quest Investigators served search warrants, subpoenas, and subpoenas duces tecum at the direction of Defendants Tonigan and McQueen. In violation of Illinois law, the special grand jury did not issue or authorize the issuance of these subpoenas, but rather they were unilaterally issued by Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, without the special grand jury’s knowledge or consent.

50. Pursuant to these illegal subpoenas, from May 21, 2010 until October 22, 2010, numerous witnesses produced documents to Defendants Tonigan and McQueen and appeared before the special grand jury to testify.

51. Defendants Tonigan and McQueen engaged in gross misconduct for the purpose of improperly influencing the special grand jury to indict Bianchi and Synek for crimes that were not supported by probable cause, to wit:

a) Defendant McQueen, under the supervision of Defendant Tonigan, improperly testified as a witness to the following unsworn and false statements of fact:

i) that County employees were given “comp time” for attending parades and evening public events which were political in nature;

ii) that Thomas Carroll, a former ASA, was directly told that he was expected to participate in political activities when he was hired as chief of the civil division;

iii) that political pressure was brought to bear on SAO employees during Bianchi’s tenure;

iv) that all of the documents that McQueen presented to the special grand jury, which came from the hard drive of a computer used by Joyce Synek, were political in nature; and

v) that Joan Hoffman, an administrative assistant in the SAO, provided McQueen political documents from her SAO computer.

52. Defendant Tonigan refused to interview Bianchi or allow Bianchi to testify before the special grand jury, despite Bianchi’s requests to do so.

53. Defendant Scigalski falsely testified before the special grand jury that former ASA Nichole Owens told him that:

a) Bianchi assumed and expected that ASAs would do political activities, including attending fundraisers, leaving work early to go to campaign meetings, and marching in parades, for which they received comp time;

b) One of Ronald Salgado’s chief jobs, as the chief investigator for the SAO, was to bring people together for political reasons;

c) Bianchi believed he could give comp time to employees for political work; and

d) Political campaigning was undertaken at Bianchi’s direction by SAO employees.

54. Defendant Scigalski also falsely testified before the special grand jury that SAO employees were given paid time by the County of McHenry for performing political work.

55. Defendant Daniel Jerger deliberately gave misleading testimony and intentionally withheld exculpatory evidence from the special grand jury for the purpose of conveying the false impression that Plaintiff Synek obstructed justice by deliberately deleting documents on a computer after receiving a grand jury subpoena.

56. At the time of that false testimony, Defendant Jerger knew there was no evidence that any document had been deleted from the computer after the issuance of the subpoena. Defendant Jerger also learned that the documents were not recoverable due to a computer virus rather than any wrongdoing by Bianchi or Synek. This information was also known to both Defendants Tonigan and McQueen prior to seeking indictments against Bianchi and Synek based on those accusations.

September 2010: Bianchi and Synek are Indicted and Arrested Without Probable Cause.

57. On or about September 10, 2010, based upon the Defendants’ misconduct as described above, the special grand jury returned an indictment against Bianchi, which was crafted by Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, for Conspiracy to commit official misconduct and obstruction of justice, nineteen (19) counts of Official Misconduct, and Unlawful Communication with a Witness (10 CF 933). None of these 21 counts were supported by probable cause or any competent evidence.

58. On September 10, 2010, based upon the Defendants’ misconduct as described above, the special grand jury returned an indictment against Synek for Conspiracy to commit official misconduct and obstruction of justice, four (4) counts of perjury, and obstruction of justice (10 CF 934). None of these counts were supported by probable cause or any competent evidence.

59. The indictment alleged that Bianchi and Syneck conspired to commit official misconduct and obstruction of justice. There was no evidence presented to the special grand jury that there was any agreement, either explicit or implicit, between Bianchi and Synek to commit either official misconduct or obstruction of justice.

60. The obstruction of justice charge against Synek falsely alleged that Synek, in agreement with Bianchi, deleted certain files after receiving a grand jury subpoena to produce those documents. Defendants knew the charge was false at the time of the indictment.

61. The indictment falsely alleged that Bianchi, in agreement with Synek, committed official misconduct by causing Synek to prepare and maintain certain documents on her County computer. The charges were insufficient on their face, as they failed to allege that Bianchi violated any law. Furthermore, no evidence was presented to the special grand jury that any of the documents that Synek allegedly prepared were actually typed by Synek, that they were typed on a County computer, or that they were typed during County work hours. Likewise, there was no evidence that Bianchi directed Synek to prepare any of the documents on a County computer or during County work hours. At the time the indictment was returned, the Defendant special prosecutors and Defendant Quest investigators knew that no such evidence existed.

62. Defendants Tonigan and McQueen knew that the indictments returned against Bianchi and Synek were not supported by probable cause. The indictments were obtained by Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, in concert with the Defendant Quest Investigators and other as yet unnamed co-conspirators, by first creating and then presenting false and manufactured evidence and statements of law to the special grand jury.

63. As a result of the indictments, a warrant was issued for the arrests of both Bianchi and Synek. On or about September 10, 2010, Bianchi and Synek were both placed under arrest by the McHenry County Sheriff and held in custody at the McHenry County Jail.

64. The indictments and arrests of Bianchi and Synek were widely covered by print, television, and electronic media throughout the Chicagoland area. Bianchi was widely described as the first State’s Attorney in the history of the State of Illinois to be indicted while in office. Based on the indictments and media coverage, Bianchi’s political enemies called on Bianchi to resign from office and questioned his ability to continue to serve as State’s Attorney while under indictment.

65. Despite the concerted efforts by the Defendants and other as yet unnamed co-conspirators, Bianchi refused to resign and continued with his duties as State’s Attorney.

October 2010: Based on the First Indictment Failing to Even State an Actual Offense Against Bianchi, the Special Prosecutors Use Perjured Testimony to Obtain a Superceding Indictment

66. The first indictment failed to allege Bianchi committed an actual underlying crime, which is required to charge official misconduct. Therefore, on October 22, 2010, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen sought a superceding indictment against Bianchi.

67 In order to obtain the superceding indictment, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen fabricated an underlying crime of “theft of labor, services, and use of property” by knowingly presenting the perjured testimony of Defendant Richard Stilling to the special grand jury. Defendant Stilling falsely testified that Peter Austin, the McHenry County Administrator, told him that only the County Administrator could authorize the use of County property for non-county business and that Peter Austin had not given anyone in the SAO such permission. In fact, Peter Austin never made any such statement to Defendant Stilling. Stilling never prepared a report of his interview of Peter Austin.

68. Furthermore, Defendants McQueen and Stilling falsely misrepresented to the special grand jury that the County of McHenry policy manual did not authorize Bianchi to give his SAO employees permission to use a County computer for non-work purposes. Defendant Stilling, as well as Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, knew the manual expressly gave Bianchi such authority. This perjured testimony was presented to the special grand jury by Defendants Tonigan and McQueen for the purpose of securing a corrupt indictment charging that Bianchi committed the crime of theft of County property.

69. Other than the above described testimony of Defendants Stilling and McQueen, Defendants Tonigan and McQueen presented no other evidence or testimony to the special grand jury in support of the superceding indictment.

70. Based on the above described misconduct, the special grand jury returned a superceding indictment against Bianchi and Synek alleging that Bianchi committed the offenses of official misconduct by committing the underlying offense of “Theft of labor, services, and use of property” of McHenry County (720 ILCS 5/16-3). Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and the Quest Investigators knew that there was no probable cause or competent evidence to support the superceding indictment.

October 2010-March 2011: Defendants Withhold Critical Evidence and Plaintiffs Bianchi and Synek are Acquitted After a Motion for Directed Finding

71. After all of the judges in McHenry County recused themselves from Bianchi and Synek’s criminal cases, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Joseph McGraw, a circuit court judge in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, to preside over the cases.

72. In furtherance of their conspiracy to prosecute and convict Bianchi and Synek for crimes they did not commit, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen and the Quest investigators deliberately withheld exculpatory evidence, including notes and witness statements, during the prosecutions of Bianchi and Synek.

73. Not until they were twice ordered by Judge McGraw to produce all handwritten notes did Defendant Tonigan and Defendant McQueen finally tender Defendant Jerger’s handwritten notes containing critical witness statements from over ten separate interviews. This untimely disclosure, five days before trial, was intended to prevent Bianchi and Synek from discovering there was no evidence that any document was erased from a computer after a subpoena for those documents was issued and that a computer virus explained why certain documents could not be recovered from the computer, rather than any deliberate act by Synek or Bianchi. This evidence eviscerated the conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges against Bianchi and Synek.

74. By fabricating evidence during the investigation through manufactured interview reports and perjured grand jury testimony, and then concealing the exculpatory evidence which established the falsity of the charges after indictment, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and the Quest Investigators forced Bianchi and Synek to remain under indictment for more than six months.

75. The withheld information would have additionally revealed gross investigative and prosecutorial misconduct and perjured testimony before the grand jury, thereby exposing due process violations which would have led to the dismissal of Bianchi and Synek’s indictments prior to trial.

76. On March 23, 2011, after a two day bench trial, Judge Joseph McGraw granted Bianchi and Synek’s Motion for a Directed Finding and acquitted them of all charges. Judge McGraw found that the charges of conspiracy and official misconduct were all fatally defective as they failed to allege essential elements of the offenses and that Defendants McQueen and Tonigan failed to present any evidence to support any of the charges.

The Conspiracy to Force Bianchi From Office Continues

77. Shortly after obtaining the first indictment against Bianchi and Synek, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and Scigalski began a second illegal and unauthorized investigation of Bianchi, and two of his employees, Plaintiffs Ronald J. Salgado and Michael J. McCleary. This investigation included interviewing witnesses about Bianchi’s handling of criminal cases, which clearly exceeded their authority under the orders signed by Judge Graham appointing Defendants Tonigan and McQueen on September 18, 2009 and January 7, 2010.

78. On October 1, 2010, long after Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and Scigalski had already begun their second unauthorized investigation, Defendant McQueen filed a verified petition to expand their investigation which contained knowingly false statements regarding Bianchi’s allegedly improper intervention in three criminal cases, to wit:

a) that Bianchi directed an ASA to reduce a plea offer to Ronald Salgado’s nephew (Jeremy Reid) from five to four years;

b) that Bianchi asked an ASA to secure a recognizance bond for one of his relatives (Michael Morzos), a felony defendant, and instructed the ASA to delay the case so his relative could benefit from a diversion program which was not yet operational; and

c) that Bianchi interceded in the case of a defendant (Tom Salvi), who was related to a financial supporter of Bianchi.

79. Defendant McQueen’s misrepresentations in the petition were intended to convince Judge Graham to expand Defendants Tonigan and McQueen’s authority to investigate and prosecute Bianchi and Salgado for crimes they did not commit and further the goal of the conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of Bianchi and drive him from office.

80. Based on Defendant McQueen’s perjured petition, on October 1, 2010, Judge Gordon Graham signed an order appointing Defendants McQueen and Tonigan as special state’s attorneys to investigate and prosecute individuals for using their official position in the SAO to give benefits in criminal prosecutions to friends, relatives, and supporters.

81. In regards to the second investigation, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen and the Quest investigators, and other as yet unnamed co-conspirators agreed, through explicit and/or implicit means, to fabricate evidence for the purpose of charging and prosecuting Bianchi and Salgado with criminal offenses, despite the lack of probable cause or competent evidence to support such charges.

82. Prior to and after October 1, 2010, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, Scigalski and Hanretty, interviewed several witnesses.

83. Prior to all witness interviews, Defendants Scigalski and Hanretty identified themselves as McHenry County Special Investigators who had been engaged by Special State’s Attorney Henry Tonigan to conduct an investigation into official misconduct in the SAO.

84. The interviews conducted by Defendants Scigalski and Hanretty occurred at the direction of Defendants Tonigan and/or McQueen. After they were completed, the Defendant Quest Investigators informed Defendants Tonigan and/or McQueen of the substance of several interviews.

85. Several witnesses interviewed by Defendants McQueen, Scigalski, and Hanretty provided information that negated the credibility of any accusations against Bianchi and Salgado. Defendants McQueen, Tonigan, and the Quest investigators deliberately ignored and failed to document that exculpatory information.

86. After conducting witness interviews, Defendants Hanretty and Scigalski, in agreement with Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, manufactured and fabricated false inculpatory evidence against Bianchi and Salgado in their reports while failing to properly document exculpatory evidence, to wit:

(a) Defendant Scigalski falsely reported that ASA Demetri Tsilimigras stated that he was directed by Bianchi to present the victim in the Thomas Salvi case with various alternatives to prosecution, one of which was for the victim to accept an apology and an agreement that Thomas Salvi would undergo counseling;

(b) Defendant Scigalski deliberately failed to record ASA Tsilimigras’ actual statement that he was the one who advised Bianchi of the options that could be given to the victim and Bianchi told him that if the victim wanted to proceed to trial, that was to be the end of the discussion;

(c) Defendant Scigalski falsely reported that former ASA Kirk Chrzanowski told him that Bianchi told him that the sentence for Jeremy Reid was to be four years, rather than five years, and that following Reid’s sentencing, the Reid family was greeted at the rear of the courtroom with Bianchi celebrating the sentence;

(d) Defendant Scigalski deliberately failed to report Chrzanowski’s actual statement that Bianchi did not direct him to reduce Jeremy Reid’s sentence to four years and that Bianchi did not have any face to face contact with Reid’s family;

(e) With the knowledge of Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and Scigalski, Defendant Hanretty intentionally failed to report the statement of Sue Ann Serdar, the president of the Pro-Life Victory PAC, that contributions to Bianchi’s campaign were not in exchange for, or in anyway related to, Bianchi dismissing any charges against Thomas Salvi;

(f) With the knowledge of Defendant McQueen, Defendant Scigalski deliberately failed to prepare an investigative report to document the statement of Philip Weyna, the chairman of the Pro-Life Victory PAC, denying that any contribution was given to Bianchi in exchange for dismissing a case; and

(g) After Defendants McQueen and Scigalski interviewed Philip Hiscock, the former Chief of the SAO’s Criminal Division and ASA Kirk Chrzanowksi’s supervisor during the pendency of the Jeremy Reid case, the Defendants deliberately failed to prepare an investigative report to document Hiscock’s statement that it was he (Hiscock) and not Bianchi who made the decision to offer Jeremy Reid a four year sentence on a plea negotiation.

87. Defendants knew that as a result of the fabricated inculpatory evidence and exculpatory evidence described in paragraph 86(a-g) above, that no probable cause or competent evidence supported any accusation against Bianchi and Salgado alleging interference with any criminal cases.

December 2010 -February 2011: Defendants Again Engage in Gross Misconduct in Connection With the Special Grand Jury.

88. In relation to the second investigation of Bianchi, the Quest Investigators served subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum at the direction of Defendants Tonigan and McQueen. These special grand jury subpoenas, which were issued by Defendant Tonigan and/or Defendant McQueen, were not in fact authorized or issued by the special grand jury, in violation of Illinois law.

89. As a result of the illegal subpoenas that were issued by Defendants Tonigan and McQueen and served by the Quest investigators, between December 3, 2010 and February 24, 2011, witnesses appeared and testified before the special grand jury.

90. When appearing before the special grand jury, Defendants deliberately engaged in misconduct for the purpose of improperly influencing the special grand jury to indict Bianchi and Salgado for crimes that were not supported by probable cause or competent evidence, to wit:

(a) Defendant McQueen, under the supervision of Defendant Tonigan, falsely testified as a witness that Bianchi offered benefits to a few defendants that were not offered to everyone, in contravention of the way the system was supposed to work;

(b) Defendant McQueen, under the supervision of Defendant Tonigan, knowingly presented the deliberately misleading testimony of Defendant Scigalski to the special grand jury concerning the baseless allegation that Bianchi dismissed the Salvi case in return for a campaign contribution from the Pro-Life Victory PAC, which Defendants McQueen and Scigalski knew to be false;

(c) Defendant Scigalski testified falsely before the special grand jury that he had been told by Defendant McQueen that Gwen Salvi, Thomas Salvi’s wife, testified that she had contact with Bianchi through the Pro-Life Victory PAC;

 (d) Defendants McQueen and Scigalski, under the supervision of Defendant Tonigan, knowingly presented false testimony to the special grand jury that Bianchi directed an ASA to reduce the sentence of Salgado’s “nephew,” Jeremy Reid, from five years to four years;

 (e) Defendants failed to advise the special grand jury that Jeremy Reid was not Ronald Salgado’s nephew or otherwise related to Salgado;

 (f) Defendants failed to advise the special grand jury that Michael Morzos was not related to Bianchi; and

 (g) Defendants failed to advise the special grand jury that Bianchi was not involved in any decisions related to the disposition of Morzos’ case.

 February 2011: Bianchi and Salgado are Indicted and Arrested Without Probable Cause

91. On February 24, 2011, based upon the Defendants’ misconduct described above, the special grand jury returned an indictment against Bianchi for three counts of official misconduct (11 CF 169) based on Bianchi’s alleged intervention in the three criminal cases described above.

92. On February 24, 2011, the special grand jury also returned an indictment against Salgado for official misconduct based on the false accusation that Salgado told an ASA that his nephew, Jeremy Reid, should be given a four, instead of five, year sentence.

93. None of the charges were supported by probable cause or any competent evidence and in fact were directly contrary to the information known to Defendants McQueen, Tonigan, Scigalski and Hanretty.

94. As a result of the indictments, a warrant was issued for the arrest of both Bianchi and Salgado. On or about February 28, 2011, Bianchi and Salgado were both placed under arrest by the McHenry County Sheriff and held in custody at the McHenry County Jail.

95. Salgado’s bond was set at $50,000, requiring Salgado to post $5000 prior to being released from the McHenry County Jail.

February 2011: The Indictment and Arrest of McCleary Without Probable Cause.

 96. As an investigator for the SAO, McCleary was required to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and his duties included locating and serving witnesses with subpoenas. As such, McCleary was assigned a McHenry County vehicle.

97. Defendants Tonigan, McQueen and the Quest Investigators began an investigation into McCleary’s personal use of the County vehicle.

98. In relation to their investigation of McCleary, Defendants McQueen and Tonigan deliberately presented misleading evidence to the special grand jurors to create the false impression that McCleary was not authorized to use a County vehicle for personal use when McQueen knew that based on his position and duties, McCleary was in fact authorized to use his County vehicle for personal use.

99. On February 24, 2011, Defendant McQueen, under the supervision of Defendant Tonigan, improperly testified as a witness to the special grand jury by falsely stating that McCleary had asserted his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer whether he reimbursed the County for gas mileage or expenses. At the time, Defendant McQueen was fully aware that McCleary was never asked a single question relating to reimbursement to the County for gas mileage or expenses.

100. Defendant McQueen further falsely told the special grand jurors that he had issued a subpoena for any documents which would show that McCleary did reimburse the County for gas mileage or expenses and that no such documents were produced. In fact, no subpoena was issued which called for any such documents.

101. On February 24, 2011, based upon the misconduct described above, the special grand jury returned an indictment against McCleary for official misconduct. The indictment falsely alleged that McCleary committed a theft of the County vehicle assigned to him.

102. As a result of the indictment, a warrant was issued for the arrest of McCleary. On or about February 28, 2011, McCleary was placed under arrest by the McHenry County Sheriff and held in custody at the McHenry County Jail.

Tonigan and McQueen’s Defamatory Statements Further Tarnish the Reputation of Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary

103. On February 28, 2011, the Defendant law firm of Kelleher & Buckley, acting through its agent Defendant Tonigan, and Defendant McQueen, issued a press release to the media. In the press release, Defendants repeated the inflammatory allegations contained in the indictments against Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary, which, as described above, they knew to be false and not supported by probable cause or any competent evidence.

104. On February 28, 2011, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and Scigalski also held a press conference. At that time, McQueen, under the supervision and/or direction of Tonigan, again repeated the inflammatory allegations contained in the indictments against Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary, which, as described above, he knew to be false and not supported by probable cause or any competent evidence. During the press conference, Defendant McQueen also made additional false and inflammatory statements regarding Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary, to wit:

(a) Defendant McQueen falsely stated that after the return of the first indictment Scigalski received calls from a number of lawyers regarding cases handled by Bianchi and that those cases suggested that the equal protection rights of all defendants were not being upheld because of favoritism;

(b) Defendant McQueen falsely stated that in a case where the defendant was Salgado’s nephew, Salgado called the ASA handling the case and told the ASA that the negotiated plea of five years would be reduced to four years;

(c) Defendant McQueen falsely stated that after being called into Bianchi’s office, the ASA was told that the sentence for Salgado’s nephew would not be a five year period of incarceration but rather it would be four years; and

(e) Defendant McQueen falsely stated that Bianchi instructed an ASA to give his nephew a recognizance bond on a criminal matter.

105. Defendant McQueen and Tongian’s statements in the press release and press conference were defamatory, violated the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, and were made in furtherance of the conspiracy to convict Bianchi, Salgado and McCleary, force Bianchi to resign from office, and tarnish the public’s opinion of Bianchi.

June-August 2011:Salgado and McCleary’s Cases Are Dismissed by the Court and Bianchi is Acquitted After a Motion for Directed Finding

106. In furtherance of the conspiracy to prosecute and convict Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary for crimes they did not commit, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, Scigalski, and Hanretty deliberately and without lawful justification withheld exculpatory evidence, including notes of critical witness interviews and witness statements, during the prosecutions of Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary.

107. Only after Bianchi filed a Motion to Compel and then a Motion for Sanctions against Defendants Tonigan and McQueen, did the special prosecutors produce the notes prepared by Defendant Hanretty of the interview he conducted of Sue Ann Serdar. However, Defendant Hanretty intentionally excluded from his notes Sue Ann Serdar’s exculpatory statement, in response to a direct question, that Pro-Life Victory did not contribute to Bianchi in exchange for Bianchi dismissing the case against Thomas Salvi.

108. On June 24, 2011, Defendant Scigalski deliberately gave perjured testimony at an evidentiary hearing on a Motion for Sanctions regarding who he spoke to during the investigation and what those individuals told him. This was done in an effort to conceal the identify of the other participants in the conspiracy to charge and prosecute Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary for crimes they did not commit.

109. By fabricating evidence during the investigation through manufactured interview reports and perjured grand jury testimony and then concealing their wrongdoing after indictment, Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and the Quest Investigators forced Bianchi to remain under indictment for more than five months.

110. The withheld information revealed gross investigative and prosecutorial misconduct, and perjured testimony before the special grand jury, which if timely disclosed, would have led to the dismissal of Bianchi’s indictment well in advance of trial.

111. On June 3, 2011, Judge McGraw dismissed the charge of official misconduct against Ronald Salgado based on the failure of the charge to state an offense against Salgado.

112. On June 29, 2011, Judge McGraw dismissed the charge of official misconduct against Michael McCleary based on the failure of the charge to state an offense against McCleary.

113. Bianchi’s second bench trial began on August 1, 2011. At trial, Defendant McQueen was assisted by Leone Flosi, an employee of Quest. McQueen falsely represented to Judge McGraw that Flosi was an attorney who was licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.

114. On August 1 , 2011, immediately prior to the commencement of trial and without any prior notification to Bianchi, Defendant McQueen dismissed the charge against Bianchi which related to the prosecution of Michael Morzos. On August 2, 2011, after a bench trial, Judge McGraw granted Bianchi’s Motion for Directed Finding and acquitted Bianchi of the two remaining charges. Judge McGraw ruled that Defendant McQueen presented no evidence to suggest that Bianchi improperly handled any criminal prosecution or that he committed an offense of official misconduct.

The Conspiracy Between The Special Prosecutors, Quest Investigators, and Other Unnamed Individuals Was Driven By Political and Financial Motivations

115. The improper investigation and prosecution of Bianchi and his employees was initiated by Bianchi’s political enemies, including Daniel Regna, who lost the primary election to Bianchi in 2008.

116. Defendants Tonigan and McQueen’s improper investigation and prosecution of Bianchi, Synek, Salgado, and McCleary took place over a period of 23 months despite the fact that there was never any evidence indicating that Bianchi, Synek, Salagdo, or McCleary committed any crime. Defendants Tonigan and McQueen continued the case for this extended period to allow them to recoup the benefits of a fraudulent billing scheme, which enabled them to bill McHenry County taxpayers outrageous sums of money with no oversight or accountability.

117. Once the Defendant Quest investigators were hired by Defendant Tonigan and appointed as special investigators, they too engaged in fraudulent and excessive billing by overstating the amount of time that was spent on work, performing work that was unnecessary, and persisting in an investigation that was baseless in order to allow the scheme to continue unabated.

118. Defendants Tonigan, McQueen, and the Quest investigators deliberately concealed the results of their investigation which revealed no criminal wrongdoing and instead manufactured evidence so that they could continue to bill McHenry County taxpayers exorbitant sums for unnecessary services.

119. From February 2010 until March 2011, court orders were obtained which required McHenry County to pay Defendants Kelleher & Buckley, McQueen, and Quest specified amounts for their investigation and prosecution of Plaintiffs which were well in excess of what is permissible under Illinois law.

120. In the 14 month period from September 2009 until November 2010, McHenry County was forced to pay Kelleher & Buckley $81,027, Defendant McQueen $103,563, and Defendant Quest $127,668, and is anticipating additional bills from Defendants covering the nine (9) month time period of December 2010 until August 2011, which included the second investigation of Bianchi and both trials which were conducted in March of 2011 and August 2011.

Suit Counts

1. Fourth Amendment Violation–False Arrest (Conspiracy), Bianchi and Synek’s first arrest
2. Fourth Amendment Violation–False Arrest (Conspiracy), Second Arrest of Bianchi and Salgado’s arrest
3. Fourth Amendment Violation–False Arrest (Conspiracy), McCleary’s Arrest
4. Fourteenth Amendment–Due Process Violations (Conspiracy), First Prosecution of Bianchi and Synek
5. Fourteenth Amendment–Due Process Violations (Conspiracy), Second Prosecution of Bianchi
6. First Amendment–Retaliatory Prosecution (Conspiracy), First Prosecution of Bianchi and Synek
7. First Amendment–Retaliatory Prosecution (Conspiracy), Second Prosecution of Bianchi, Salgado, and McCleary
8. State Law Claim–Malicious Prosecution and Conspiracy, First Prosecution of Bianchi and Synek
9. State Law Claim–Malicious Prosecution and Conspiracy, Second Prosecution of Bianchi and Salgado
10. State Law Claim–Malicious Prosecution and Conspiracy, McCleary’s Prosecution
11. State Law Claim, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Conspiracy (Louis Bianchi)
12. State Law Claim, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Conspiracy (Joyce Synek)
13. State Law Claim. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Conspiracy (Ronald Salgado)
14. State Law Claim, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Conspiracy, (Michael McCleary)
15. State Law Claim, Defamation and Conspiracy, (Louis Bianchi, Ronald Salgado, and Michael McCleary)

There was more money billed the Special Prosecutors of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi in June than in May.

Submitted to Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen was an invoice for $9,091.65. That includes hourly billing at $135 per hour, plus mileage.

Robert Scigalski, Pat Hanretty, Dan Jerger and Gerald Theis had billable hours. Although at times Scigalski has billed $70 per hour for travel, in June he billed $135 per hour.

Here are the details for Scigalski:

6-21-11 1 hour – Review judges order and contact with Agents Hanretty, Reilly, Their, O’Connell, Jerger

6-23-11 3 hours – Meeting at Tonigan’s office with McQueen & Flosi to prepare for hearing before Jdg McGraw.

6-24-11 7.25 hours – Pre-hearing meeting & review at Tonigan’s office w/ McQueen, Jerger & Flosi & travel to Rockford/ attend hearing & return.

Billing by Pat Hanretty:

6-24-11 7.5 hours – Pre hearing conference at Wynstone, Appearance at Discovering Hearing in Rockford, IL.

Billing by Dan Jerger:

6-22-11 1 hour – Per request of McQueen, prepared materials for discover and emailed to Tom McQueen. Performed imaging for preservation.

6-24-11 8 hours – Prepared, and traveled to 102 South Wynstone, Park Drive, Suite 100, North Barrington, IL 60010. Met with Tom McQueen. Traveled to and returned from Rockford courthouse. Appeared at hearing. Continued imaging for preservation.

6-25-11 5 hours – Forensically imaged systems for preservation.

6-26-11 1.5 hours – Forensically imaged systems for preservation.

6-28-11 2 hours – Forensically imaged systems for preservation.

6-29-11 2 hours – Forensically imaged systems for preservation.

Billing by Gerald C. Theis:

6-24-11 5.5 hours – Travel to Rockford to attend heading and return.

McHenry County Blog moves on to the April bill submitted by Quest International in the criminal investigation started by Associate Judge Gordon Graham by his appointment of Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan.

Investigators Robert Seigalski, Lee Flosi, Patrick Hanretty, Gerald Theis, James P. Reilly and Dan Jerger bill the Special Prosecutors $135 per hour, except for some travel, which Scigalski notes he bills at $70 an hour. The others do not bill $70 for travel time.

Here are the bills for April, 2011, in chronological order:

4-12-11 2 hours – Scigalski: Conf call with McQueen, as directed, Review all McHenry County interviews and reread seven relating to the second prosecution.

4-14-11 0.5 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery including T15.

4-18-11 2 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery.

4-19-11 3 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery and provided to Bob Scigalski.

The total bill for April was a modest $1,645.

Today McHenry County blog looks at March, 2011, billings from Quest International.

Quest is the company selected by McHenry County Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan in his unsuccessful quest to convict McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi of felony criminal offenses.

Robert Seigalski, Lee Flosi, Patrick Hanretty, Gerald Theis, James P. Reilly and Dan Jerger bill the Special Prosecutors $135 per hour, except for some travel, which Scigalski notes he bills at $70 an hour. The others do not bill $70 for travel time.

Here are the billings for March of this year:

3-1-11 2 hours – Jerger: Prepared discovery materials. Verify and label copies of evidence for production.

3-2-11 3.5 hours – Jerger: Prepared discovery materials. Prepared, traveled to and returned from 901 Warrenville road, Suite 176, Lisle, IL 60532. Dropped off evidence CD’s to Mary Nash, assistant to Terry A. Ekl of Ekl Williams PLLC. Updated McQueen telephonically.

3-3-11 3.75 hours – Scigalski: Call to Nichole Owens / call to McQueen / work on subpoena requiring internal communications

3-5-11 4 hours – Scigalski: Work on subpoena compliance making sure all McHenry relevant emails & notes are gathered, copied and notebooked.

3-6-11 4 hours – Scigalski: Meeting at Tonigan’s office / review with T. Carroll

3-6-11 3 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery.

3-7-11 6 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery. Reviewed case details.

3-8-11 9 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery production. Prepared, traveled to, and returned from 102 South Wynstone Park Dr. Suite 100, North Barrington, Il 60010. Met with Judge Henry “Skip” Tonigan and Tom McQueen to discuss case updates and strategy.

3-9-11 10 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery. Reviewed case details

3-10-11 1.5 hours – Flosi – Served subpoena on Keith Chval, Clarendon Hills, IL

3-10-11 9 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery. Reviewed case details

3-11-11 1.5 hours – Flosi – Served subpoena on Ronald Weiss, Arlington Heights, IL.

3-11-11 4 hours – Jerger: Prepared discovery materials. Prepared, traveled to and returned from…Lisle…Dropped off T2 evidence tape and T4CD to Tracy Kreczmer with Ekl williams PLLC. Updated McQueen telephonically and email.

3-12-11 1 hour – Jerger: Reviewed case details.

3-13-11 4 hours – Scigalski: At Tonigan’s Office, Participate in interview/ trial prep of A. Dalby. Again, later meeting at Tonigan’s office with McQueen for interview of Ron Weiss/ email Ownes/ call to Rein.

3-13-11 – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to, and returned from…North Barrington. Met with Judge Henry “Skip” Tonigan and Tom McQueen to discuss case. Reviewed case materials.

3-14-11 2 hours – Scigalski: Prep for and conference call with Tonigan and Nicole Owens and with McQueen

3-14-11 8 hours – Jerger: Reviewed details in preparation for meeting with Tom McQueen.

3-15-11 8 hours – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to, and returned from…North Barrington. Met with Tom McQueen to discuss case. Reviewed case materials.

3-16-11 1 hour – Flosi – Attempted to locate Sgt. Harris for subpoena service.

3-16-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-17-11 8 hours – Scigalski: Continue work on trial materials. Continue review for confirmation of production of all reports and notes beyond original order.

3-17-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-18-11 7.5 hours – Scigalski: Review ints – Weiss, Sullivan & Rein / prep PDF’s & email/ contact and email McQueen/ Call to Mist. Sgt. J. Jarris/ Call Chval w email/ confirm Subpoena – Harris

3-18-11 1 hour – Flosi – Served subpoena on Sgt. Harris, c/o Dispatch Desk, Illinois State Police H.Q., 9511 W. Harrison, Des Plaines, IL.

3-18-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-19-11 2.5 hours – Scigalski: At HT’s [Henry Tonigan's] office- Meeting to debrief Carroll

3-19-11 8 hours – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to, and returned…from North Barrington. Met with Tom McQueen to discuss case. Reviewed case materials.

3-20-11 2.5 hours – Scigalski: At HT’s office – Meeting with McQueen to debrief Dalby

3-20-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-23-11 Bianchi, Synek Acquitted of All Charges

The grand total for the February and March, 2011, bill from Quest International was $46,875.04.

April tomorrow.

With today’s billings from Quest International, we move into the second month of 2011.

Quest is the company selected by McHenry County Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan in his unsuccessful quest to convict McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi of felony criminal offenses.

Robert Seigalski, Lee Flosi, Patrick Hanretty, Gerald Theis, James P. Reilly and Dan Jerger bill the Special Prosecutors $135 per hour, except for some travel, which Scigalski notes he bills at $70 an hour. The others do not bill $70 for travel time.

Here are the billings for February of this year:

2-3-11 0.25 hours – Jerger: Prepared and responded to email.

2-4-11 2 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. Matter: To Aurora with R. Scigalski to serve Kiawana Guyton…, Kiawana not home: Mileage 46

2-5-11 1 hour – Flosi: McHenry Co. Matter: To Aurora, & attempt to serve Kiawana Guyton…, Kiawana not home: Mileage 46

2-7-11 3.5 hours – Seigalski: Meet with Quest Agents O’Connell and Hanretty/ provide subpoenas and info for interveiw/ Conf calls with Agents and McQueen / review – Met with again ASA Chrzanowski in Palatine

2-7-11 7 hours – Hanretty: Conference with Seigalski and O’Connell in Palatine. Serve subpoenas in McHenry County on Morzos and three Reids.

2-8-11 2.25 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. Matter: To Aurora, & attempt to serve Kiawana Guyton…Kiwania not home, serve occupant in her apt. at 2:55 PM. Prepare report of service. Mileaage 46

2-10-11 4.5 hours – Seigalski: Prep for & travel to Woodstock for GJ [Grand Jury]

2/10/11 1.5 hours – Seigalski: Prep for & travel to Woodstock for 80M ($70 x2)

2-10-11 4 hours – Jerger: Prepared digital photographs for discovery and printed.

2-15-11 4 hours – Seigalski: Compile photos and CDs for discovery and meet with Pros[ecution] Team at Tonigan’s office for conference

2-15-11 4 hours – Hanretty: Administration processing of affidavits of service of subpoenas from 2/7. Database research for a “Jackie” Jacques.

2-16-11 2 hours – Hanretty: Database research for a “Jackie” Jacques.

2-17-11 1.5 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. W/ Scigalski to…Aurora & attempt to Interview Kiawana Guyton. Mileage 46.

2-18-11 7.5 hours – Hanretty: Subpoena service at McHenry Co. Administrative Offices, 2200 N. Seminary Rd. then attempt to locate Tiffany Albrect. Steven Albrecht at {number redacted] Sycamore, Crystal Lake, IL.

2-19-11 1.25 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. To…Aurora & attempt to interview & serve Kiawana Guyton. No answer to repeated knocks on the Apt. Door. Mileage 46

2-21-11 1.25 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. To…Aurora & attempt to Interview & serve Kiawana Guyton, No one responded to repeated raps on the front door. Observation at the rear revealed that no lights were on in the house. Milegate 46.

2-21-11 1 hour – Jerger: Teleconferenced and transferred sample audio tracks for recording presentation to Grand Jury.

2-22-11 2.5 hours – Seigalski: Conduct investigation re Morzos matter/ contact McQueen & Hanretty

2-22-11 3.5 hours – Jerger: Teleconferenced with Tom McQueen regarding case details. Emailed Tom McQueen. researched tape restoration options. Audio conversion for Grand Jury.

2-23-11 5 hours – Seigalski: Contact with Jacques for additional questions / prepare, send & prep & send Bates / work w Dan on tapes

2-23-11 1.25 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co: To home of Kiawana Guyton Aurora, IL and attempt to serve & interview. No Answer No one home. Mileage 46

2-23-11 4 hours – Jerger: began initial process of T4 and T5 evidence. Prepared converted audio recordings and methods for Grand Jury.

2-24-11 4.5 hours – Seigalski: Grand Jury appearance & testimony / assist witnesses (6)

2-24-11 1.5 Hours – Seigalski: Prep for & travel to Woodstock for 80 M ($70 x2)

2-24-11 5 hours – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to and returned from 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, Il 60098. Grand Jury potential testimony and audio recording support.

2-24-11 Bianchi Indicted a Second Time

2-28-114 hours – Jerger: Forensically processed and duplicated T4 and T5 evidence in preparation for discover. Teleconferenced with Tom McQueen.

This is the third installment of McHenry County Blog’s look at what Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s investigating firm Quest International billed for in its criminal investigation of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his staff.

Previously, we looked at September, October, November and December, 2010, bills. Today we cover January, 2011.

Robert Seigalski, Lee Flose, Patrick Hanretty, Gerald Theis, James P. Reilly and Dan Jerger bill the Special Prosecutors $135 per hour, except for some travel, which Scigalski notes he bills at $70 an hour. The others do not bill $70 for travel time.

1-1-11 7 hours – Scigalski: With PH interview Mr. Wayne/ w McQueen interviews Chief Lindsay

1-1-11 1 hour – Scigalski: Travel to and from Crystal Lake, IL. 44 miles ($70 x2)

1-3-11 0.5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed and responded to email from Tom McQueen

1-4-11 1 hour – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail; review Morzos calls; review voluminous calls from Jeremy Reid to mother, grandmother and friends.

1-5-11 3 hours – Scigalski: Review & to CLPD w/ Chief & Obtain Documents (4)

1-5-11 1 hour – Scigalski: Travel to and from Crystal Lake, IL 44 miles ($70 x1)

1-5-11 5.25 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail; summary of Morzos and Reed tapes reviewed to date

1-5-11 075 hours – Jerger: Teleconferenced with Tom McQueen. Prepared and began additional searches.

1-6-11 3 hours – Scigalski: Begin QuestCheck background for relatives of Lou Bianchi/conference calls with and emails from attorney McQueen/conference call with Special Investigator Reilly regarding his review of prison tapes for Morzos and Reid

1-6-11 4 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail

1-6-11 3 hours – Reilly: Performed requested search and reviewed. Updated Tom McQueen telephonically and via email.

1-7-11 1.75 hours – Jerger: Continued search review and updated Tom McQueen verbally.

1-9-11 3.5 hours – Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail and email summary of info

1-11-11 6.75 hours – Scigalski: Discuss the Morzos case with Theis & prepare email leads/ conference call with deputy chief Lowery/conference call with ASA contact/message left for ASA DT [Demetrios Tsilimigras]/conduct data search re Michael Morzos/ meet with Attorney McQueen & review re GJ [Grand Jury]

1-11-11 5.25 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail

1-12-11 0.5 hour – Scigalski: Calls to CL Chief & Commander Birchette

1-12-11 5 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail

1-13-11 0.25 hour – Scigalski: Calls re Lowrence Matter

1-13-11 1 hour – Theis: Review and efforts to arrange an interview with Pamela Morzos, [address redacted] Frohling Rd., Huntley, IL, telephone [number redacted]

1-13-11 4.25 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry County Jail

1-14-11 3.5 hours – Reilly: To McHenry Courthouse of GJ appearance regarding phone calls from McH Cty Jail

1-15-11 2.5 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry Cty Jail

1-16-11 3.25 hours – Reilly: Review of tapes of calls from McHenry Cty Jail

1-19-11 1.75 hours – Scigalski: Review Kiawanna interviews and tapes

1-20-11 1.25 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. Matter: To Aurora & attempt to interview Kiawana Guyton at 1312 2nd Avenue. Complex office closed. Mileage 46.

1-20-11 3 hours – Theis: To Pamela Morzos interview, McHenry County Department of Health, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock IL and return 110 miles. Preparation of interview report.

1-21-11 4 hours – Scigalski: With Agent Lee] Flosi, to Aurora to attempt to locate & interview Kiawana Guyton.

1-21-11 2 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co. Matter: To Aurora with R. Seigalski, & attempt to serve Kiawanna Guyton at 1312 2nd Avenue; Confer with Complex office personnel & directed to Apt #109 A for Kiwana Guyton. Kiawana not home. Mileage 46.

1-23-11 2.25 hours – Jerger: Drafted and edited report of interview.

1-24-11 4.5 hours – Scigalski: Begin prep of photos for discover/ attempt to locate Kiwana Guyton at Aurora

1-25-11 3.5 hours – Scigalski: Work on Photo discovery & Bianchi Dictation tape/ with McQueen review Morzos &meet with Hiscock & Atty in Schaumburg

1-25-11 2.25 hours – Jerger: Met with Bob Scigalski regarding evidence tapes and recordings.

1-26-11 2 hours – Scigalski: Calls – Kiawana, Kirk, Theis, /report to McQueen

1-26-11 0.75 hours – Theis: Review and telephone conversations with Darryl Morzos, arranging for an interview appointment.

1-27-11 3.75 hours – Scigalski: Meeting at Tonigan’s Office / Prep for, travel and interview Kirk Chranoswski at Palatine, Illinois.

1-28-11 2.25 hours – Theis: To Darryl Morzas interview [street number redacted] Savammah Lane, Crystal Lake, Il and return 75 miles.

1-28-11 4 hours – Jerger: Prepared MP3 recordings on CDs from microcassette recording collected 7/23/10 for discovery

1-29-11 1.5 hours – Flosi: McHenry Co Matter: To Aurora & attempt to interview Kiawana Guyton at 1312 2nd Avenue Apt #109 A, Kiawana not home. Mileage 46.

The total billed for January, 2011, and, I believe, December, 2010, was $26,586.51. That includes the hours billed above, plus mileage at 51 cents a mile, something called “QuestChecks,” plus printing and copying.

McHenry County Blog continues looking at what Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s investigating firm Quest International billed for in its criminal investigation of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his staff.

Yesterday, we looked at September, October and November, 2010, bills. Today we cover December’s and those of January, 2011.

Robert Scigalski, Lee Flose, Patrick Hanretty, Gerald Theis, James P. Reilly and Dan Jerger bill the Special Prosecutors $135 per hour, except for some travel, which Scigalski notes he bills at $70 an hour. The others do not bill $70 for travel time.

12-1-10 9 hours – Scigalski: Call to Zinke re Reid and Wonder Lake Officer K. O’Connor. To CL interview Chief, Dep. Chief Lowery & Det. Majzner at Crystal Lk PD & meet with ASA DT [Demetri Tsilimigras] & PREP reports / Report to McQueen

12-1-10 1 hour – Scigalski: Travel to and from Crystal Lake, IL 44 miles ($70 x2)

12-1-10 3 hours – Hanretty: Serve subpoena to Detective Kurt, Crystal Lake P.D. and prepare affidavits.

12-2-10 3 hours – Hanretty: Obtain subpoenaed materials from American Banks & Trust & deliver to Judge Tonigan’s office. Prepare affidavits.

12-3-11 3 hours – Scigalski: To Woodstock at GJ [Grand Jury] with witnesses Review Documents for leads

12-3-10 1.5 hours – Scigalski: Travel to and from Woodstock, IL 80 M )$70 x2)

12-3-10 0.5 hours – Jerger: Prepared and teleconferenced with Tom Sullivan, updated and emailed Tom McQueen.

12-6-11 4 hours – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to and returned from 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098. Department data collection. Collected Qo90838-T15. Teleconferenced with Tom McQueen to update.

12-7-10 2 hours – Scigalski: Review DT’s additional Docs he provided and send PDF inventory. Work on photos for discovery.

12-9-10 4 hours – Scigalski: Meeting with McQueen re materials for Morzoz & Reid leads. Review Salvi remaining leads

12-10-10 1 hour – Scigalski: Work on discovery request / review email request of McQueen

12-20-10 5 hours – Scigalski: Prepare for and meeting at Tonigan’s office to discuss evidence & determine interview assignments/ review prior interviews for details and organize schedule and strategies.

12-17-10 1.75 hours – Scigalski: Review prison tapes of Reid and Morzos and discuss transcription strategy

12-17-10 2 hours – Jerger: Prepared evidence for searching indexing. Begin searches.

12-20-0 2.5 hours – Jerger: Continued indexing and searching of T-15 emails. Prepared and teleconferenced with Judge Tonigan Tom McQueen and Bob Scigalski regarding findings. Emailed search results.

12-27-10 1 hour – Hanretty: Meet Seigalski to obtain case materials.

12-28-10 2.5 hours – Scigalski: Meeting at Skip Tonigan’s Office

12-28-10 1 hour – Hanretty: Research contact information for Sue Serdar and interview.

12-29-10 3 hours – Scigalski: Prepare for and attend meeting at Judge Tonigan’s office with attorney McQueen to discuss strategy. Return and review leads for assignments.

12-29-11 2.25 hours – Reilly: Review of McHenry County Jail recorded phone calls for info of value.

12-30-10 3.5 hours – Scigalski: Prepare for an attend meeting at Judge Tonigan’s office with attorney McQueen to discuss strategy. Return and review leads for assignments.

12-30-10 4 hours – Reilly:Tel cal to ICSolutions for tech support. Tell cal to D. Jerger; Review McHenry County Jail recorded phone calls for info of value.

12-31-10 3.5 hours – Scigalski: Conference call w/ Lowery/then w McQueen/with ASA Carroll/Review contact made w treas./rev contribution docs

12-31-10 1 hour – Hanretty: Research contact information begin attempts to contact to arrange interview

12-31-10 4.5 hours – Reilly: Review McHenry County Jail recorded phone calls for info of value.

January, 2011, bills tomorrow.

Below is what Judge Joseph McGraw ruled in the criminal trial of McHenry County State’s Attorney and his assistant Joyce Synek:

STATE OF ILLINOIS)
) SS:
COUNTY OF McHENRY)

IN THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
McHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS

THE PEOPLE OF THE )
STATE OF ILLINOIS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. )
)
LOUIS A. BIANCHI and ) No. 10 CF 933
JOYCE C. SYNEK, ) 10 CF 934
)
Defendants. )

EXCERPT OF REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS had in the above-entitled cause before the Honorable JOSEPH McGRAW, Judge of said Court, on March 23, 2011, in the afternoon session.

APPEARANCES:

MR. THOMAS K. McQUEEN and
MR. HENRY C. TONIGAN, III,
Special Prosecutors,
Appeared on behalf of the Plaintiff.

EKL WILLIAMS
BY: MR. TERRY A. EKL
Appeared on behalf of the Defendant,
Louis A. Bianchi.

DiBENEDETTO and KENDALL
BY: MR. ERNEST A. DiBENEDETTO
Appeared on behalf of the Defendant,
Joyce C. Synek.

(WHEREUPON, trial proceedings were reported but not transcribed.)

THE COURT: All right. Both defendants have filed a motion for a directed finding of not guilty at the conclusion of the State’s case.

The applicable standard in entertaining such a motion, trial court must consider the evidence adduced by the State in the light most favorable to the State when ruling on a motion for directed verdict or a motion for — the motion for not guilty at the conclusion of a bench trial.

I have considered the motions filed. I have considered the authority submitted. I have reviewed my notes. I have reviewed the exhibits that are entered into Evidence. And I find and order as follows:

As to Count I, there are defects in the pleading in Count I; specifically, it is not pled that there was an agreement. However, even not basing my ruling on the defect in the pleading, which I do find there is a defect, I do not find that there is sufficient evidence of an agreement. It is not pled,
and I do not find from the evidence that there is any direct evidence of an agreement between Defendant Bianchi and Defendant Synek.

I have considered the evidence to determine whether there is sufficient circumstantial evidence of an agreement. Is there sufficient evidence to inferentially establish the existence of an agreement?

I do not find that there is. The evidence merely raises a suspicion as to the existence of an agreement. The circumstantial evidence in this case does not establish nor does it exclude every other reasonable hypothesis for the actions of the — or the intent or agreement of the defendants. So, I do enter a directed finding in favor of the defendants as to Count I.

As to Count II, I do believe there is a defect in the pleading in Count II. It does not, as I believe the case law requires, indicate that the alleged official misconduct was committed by Mr. Bianchi in his official capacity. It does make reference to him being the State’s Attorney, but I do believe the authority submitted indicates that for official misconduct to be properly pled at the trial level, that it has to specifically allege that the misconduct or misdeeds were done in the official’s official capacity. That is not pled. I do find that is a defect.

Moreover, as to the theft of labor and services, the underlying offense or prohibited or forbidden conduct, I’ve examined the authority that’s been submitted, and it demonstrates to my satisfaction that anticipated labor of an employee is not the property of the employer, and, thus, diversion by a third party of the employee from his duty for his employer is not theft. But I don’t — or I should say alternatively or as an alternative to that structural defect in the charging document, I cannot find beyond a reasonable doubt that there is sufficient evidence that the defendants or the employees of the Defendant, specifically, the State’s Attorneys or managers were directed to perform political duties on county time.

I find that there is insufficient evidence that they were directed or deterred or misdirected from performing their duties for the County. I don’t find that the — it was without the consent of the County. I find that the State’s Attorney had the discretion or authority to utilize his staff in a manner that he would choose, even if it was during the work hours.

He was — and I’m referring specifically to 8.1 of the electronic communications provision, Exhibit 60 — that incidental or occasional use of these systems for nonwork purposes may be permitted at the discretion of the elected official or department head of the office that the employee or other agent performs work within.

I don’t find that Mr. Bianchi directed his employees to perform the campaign-related work during County time. And if on their own initiative or through misunderstanding or misdirection they chose to perform campaign-related work while at work or with their computer, that was a matter that was within the discretion of the elected official. I do not find that was a violation of law.

I don’t find that the statutory section cited pertaining to theft of property or services is applicable to the facts of this case, so I am entering a finding against the State in favor of the Defendant as to Counts II through XX.

I find that the managers meetings took place during nonbusiness hours. And to the extent that they took place during business hours, that their purpose was of a dual nature dealing with addressing public concerns, media concerns directed against the State’s Attorney and the office of the State’s Attorney.

I do not find that services or property of McHenry County were misappropriated as far as Defendant Bianchi goes as far as Count XXVI.

I do not find that there is sufficient evidence even viewed in the light most favorable to the State that Defendant Bianchi intended to deter Tom Carroll from testifying truthfully or fully. Reasonable men can disagree about what is a political document, as evidenced by these proceedings. I do not find that his disagreement with Mr. Carroll about what Mr. Carroll
proposed to present to the Grand Jury constituted an attempt by the Defendant to deter Mr. Carroll from testifying fully and truthfully.

The reasons set forth in Count I, I find in favor of — or I should say with regard to Mr. Bianchi.

I find in favor of Ms. Synek and against the State as to Count I as it relates to Ms. Synek.

As regards counts XXI, the perjury count, again, I’ve looked at the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, as I am required to do. There was no evidence that she was asked — that I could find in my notes — to do political-related correspondence on her County computer.

The question is have you been asked to do your County computer politically-related correspondence on behalf of Mr. Bianchi, and the answer is no. I couldn’t find anywhere where she was asked to do political-related correspondence on her County computer.

There is political-related correspondence I think on her County computer.

But insofar as her statement in response to the Grand Jury is alleged to be materially false, I don’t find that she was asked to do that on her County computer.

I find in favor of Ms. Synek on [Count] XXII and enter judgment of acquittal on that — XXI, on that count.

On Count XXII, the charging document alleges that and do you prepare correspondence that related — past tense — to Festa Italiana from your office in the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the answer was no. The question that was propounded contained in Exhibit 22 was and do you prepare — present tense — any correspondence that relates to Festa Italiana from your office in the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the answer was no.

Again, the questions have to be construed that — taking them as they were propounded, not past tense but present tense. So on July 2nd, 2010, when she testified before the Grand Jury, I could not find that she made a materially false statement in the present tense that she prepared or prepare in the present tense correspondence related to Festa Italiana on her office computer. I find in favor of Defendant Synek and against the State and enter judgment of acquittal as to that count.

As to Count XXIII, have you deleted in the last three years any documents which relate to political matters rather than the work of the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the answer was no.

I — I listened intently to Mr. Jerger’s testimony, and I did my best to follow it and to follow the exhibits that were tendered. And it appears as though there are some documents that were deleted. Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, I could not find that Ms. Synek deleted those documents.

I’m not sure when — and I’m digressing somewhat — but I wasn’t sure after listening to his testimony or I wasn’t convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that — or did I think I could be based on the evidence presented — as to when the documents were created and how they were manipulated or moved or altered or overwritten during the various times they may have been accessed on the Dalby/Synek hard drive. So I cannot find that Defendant Synek is guilty of Count XXIII.

Moreover, as mentioned throughout, the ambiguity of the term political matter is subject to more than one interpretation. I cannot find she made a materially false answer to Count XXIII — or the question in Count XXIII.

Count XXIV: Have you changed your practices with respect to the drives on which you prepare documents or the locations within your computer filing system where you keep documents? Answer: No.

Again, as I’ve indicated, it was confusing listening to Mr. Jerger to ascertain when whatever was done was done, when it was changed and if it was changed, if anything had been deleted or moved or overwritten.

I don’t know what change in practices the special prosecutor was specifically referring to in that question. Accordingly, I cannot find even — I look at these questions in context. I cannot find that Mrs. Synek or Ms. Synek changed any practices about how she maintained the information on her computer.

Lastly, with regard to Count XXV as it relates to Ms. Synek, obstructing justice, as I mentioned previously, I think there is a defect in the charging document. The Court must at the trial stage look to make sure each and every element is properly pled. I do not find that the — all the elements have been pled in Count XXV — could not find an indication that the charge against her was stated that she did so with the intent to obstruct the prosecution of someone.

And I’m not going to infer or supply missing terms to a charging document.

The — As I said, even apart from the apparent defects in the charging documents, my ruling or conclusion would be the same. So each motion for each Defendant for judgments of acquittal or finding of not guilty are heard and granted in their entirety.

(WHEREUPON, further proceedings were reported but not transcribed.)

STATE OF ILLINOIS )
) SS:
COUNTY OF McHENRY )

IN THE TWENTY-SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT McHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS

I, Mary L. Krikorian, an Official Court
Reporter of the 22nd Judicial Circuit of Illinois, do
hereby certify that I reported in shorthand the
proceedings had in the above-entitled cause, and that
the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of all
the proceedings heard.

A U.S. Marshal told me he had spent three years sitting in courtrooms and never seen a directed verdict.

I’ve seen one.

It was when my 1982 Skinner for Congress campaign manager sued because I didn’t pay what he thought was owed.

We had signed a contact.

My lawyer asked him on cross examination if he had handled press releases, as the contract said he would.

He admitted that my then-wife Robin had.

The campaign manager was asked if he kept the schedule, as the contract said he would.

No, he admitted, a volunteer had done that.

After the campaign manager finished putting on his evidence, my attorney asked Judge Michael Sullivan for a directed verdict and it was granted.

That was a civil case.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s and his assistant Joyce Synek’s were criminal cases.

Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen did not file adequate indictments against Bianchi and his assistant Joyce Synek.

That’s what Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw said again and again.

“There are defects in the pleading of Count 1,” Judge Joesph McGraw ruled.

“I do not find there is sufficient evidence of an agreement between Defendant Bianchi and Defendant Synek. With regard to circumstantial evidence to inferentially (conclude there was an agreement), I do not find that…merely raising the suspicion of an agreement does not exclude every other possibility.”

With regard to Count 2, McGraw said, “I do believe there is a defect in (the) pleading that allege official misconduct was committed in his official capacity. I do believe that authority (requires?) for it to be property plead that (it) has to specifically plead in the official’s official capacity. Moreover, as to the theft of labor and services, the underlying offense or forbidden conduct…and it demonstrates to my satisfaction that anticipation labor is not the property of the employer. Diversion is not theft beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“(In the) alternative to structural defect, I cannot find that there is sufficient evidence that employees of the defendant were directed to performance of duties on company time.”

These comments were made with regard to Counts 1-21 concerning Joyce Synek’s perjury charges:

“(Considering) the perjury (evidence in the) most favorable (light) to the state, as I’m (required to do), there’s no evidence she was asked to do politically-related work on a county computer.”

With regard to Count 23, “(Is there evidence she) deleted any documents in the last three years?

“No.

“I listened intently to Mr. Jerger’s (the Quest forensic computer “expert”). It appear there are some documents that have (been deleted). I could not find that Ms. Synek deleted those documents. I am not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt as to when and how they were manipulated or overridden.”

Concerning Count 24 about changing practices for location on the computer, Judge McGraw answered, “No.”

He found it “confusing listening to Mr. Jerger when whatever was done was done…I cannot find that she changed any practices.”

He went on to say with regard to the obstruction of justice charge, there was a “defect in the charging document.”

Referring to Count 15, “I do not find all the elements have been plead. I’m not going to infer or supply missing terms to the charging documents.”

With former Criminal Division Chief Nichole Owens to go as Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s final witness, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s criminal defense lawyer Terry Ekl is so unimpressed with the case put on against his client that he intends to file for a directed verdict.

That means Ekl believes that the prosecution has put on such a poor case that no defense witnesses are needed.

Tonigan assistant Thomas McQueen spent most of the morning presenting Quest International computer forensics expert Dan Jerger with copies of printouts for identification.

The documents had been obtained from computers in the State’s Attorney’s Office.

The $250 an hour expert identified documents with the following titles or subject matters, among others:

• Fiesta Check List on Day of Event
• Fiesta Check List
• Public Announcement
• Correspondence on the letterhead of Louis Bianchi, Republican for McHenry County State’s Attorney
• Mailing labels
• Dear Supporter Letters
• Committeemen Envelopes (142 labels)
• Dear Committee Letter
• Fellow Republican
• Republicans on a spreadsheet
• Vrett Party spreadsheet
• Late Thanks Festa
• New List 2006-2007 spreadsheet
• Festa Final Final spreadsheet
• Bill%Franz%20Reception
• New List 2006-2007 spreadsheet
• Rabine
• 2005 Plates
• Festa List 2006
• Festa List 2006 spreadsheet
• Mailing List Bianchi
• FWDRE Invite List
• Announcement…..
• Bianchi Announcement 2007 Final
• Support File – Koehler
• Support – Plaze
• Support File – Donner-Merkel- Hill-Wheeler
• Franks Support
• Supporters
• Sign Locations
• 2007 Election
• Sample Letter
• Meeting 5-17
• Letter to Committeemen
• Letter to Supporters
• Dear Committeemen
• DR Packet (Letter from Danial J. Regna)
• Smith-Brent
• Dear Festa Sponsor (on Louis Bianchi for McHenry County State’s Attorney letterhead)

Of these the expert said 100 were created on August 8, 2007.

70 were created within a seven-second time period on August 8, 2007.

Jerger said a number “had the file property of being hidden.”

Next came four emails from Joyce Synek and five for Bianchi.

One, a “contact list.” was sent to Bianchi and Bianchi’s campaign manger, Nancy Prioletti, from Synek, he said.

On cross examination, Jerger could not estimate how many emails he went through to find the nine presented as evidence.

“I was not directed to.”

“Did you just put search terms in?”

That was apparently the case.

Ekl asked if he had a report of his activities. None that had not been presented by McQueen seemed forthcoming.

There were notes, however, that Ekl did not receive in a timely fashion.

They were subpoenaed in early December and did not show up until March 15th.

This disturbed Ekl to the point where he asked Judge McGraw to strike Jerger’s entire testimony.

The Judge was disturbed enough to ask McQueen, “Had you asked for handwritten notes?” He decided he wanted to hear the President of Quest Robert A. Scigalski, who sat in the courtroom both Monday and Tuesday.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a tap dance (about court ordered production),” Ekl said after the prosecution’s explanation of why Jerger’s notes didn’t get handed over until last week.

Ekl finally got Jerger to agree there were probably more than 100,000 documents on Synek’s hard drive.

Jerger wouldn’t venture a guess as to how many files the disk contained.

“I do not have the number of files that were on that,” he said.

Neither did he have an estimate as to how many were on Karen Rhodes’ 80 GB hard disk.

Jerger had no idea how many hours he has worked on the project.

Ekl pointed out the billing said 345.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Jerger observed.

At $250 an hour, Ekl calculated he had charged the county $86,250.

That’s when he revealed the total Quest bill as $225,000.

Questioning continued with Ekl trying to get Jerger to admit that the 100 files found on Synek’s computer dated August 8, 2008, were probably the result of their being downloaded onto the computer.

I didn’t hear real solid agreement.

This was part of an attempt by Ekl to show that file creation dates might not mean what a layman would think they would.

About the best that Ekl could get in way of agreement to his interpretation of the data was

“(There’s) no indication that it wouldn’t be what you’re suggesting.”

Ekl asked if evidence was discovered to show that Synek’s “computer was infested with viruses.”

Jerger said he didn’t recall.

Ekl: “You didn’t know as of August 20th that in the first part of July it was infested?”

“No, to my recollection, I didn’t learn that,” Jerger said.

Ekl thought that was significant because “when you run an anti-virus software there’s movement of a lot of files and lots of files are lost.”

Some get put “into a quarantine so it (the virus) can no longer harm the computer,” Ekl explained.

While Ekl seemed certain that Jerger had been informed by a member of the McHenry County IT Department, Jerger wasn’t, even after looking at his handwritten notes.

Asked if any of those who had used Synek’s computer had password protection, Jerger said they didn’t.

In addition to computerized data, 726 paper documents were taken from Synek’s office and 3,000 from Karen Rhodes.

During the lunch break Ekl explained to reporters,

“They can’t establish that any document was typed up on a county computer.”

Concerning the “hidden” files, they have fifty hard copies that they took out of her (Synek’s) office.

“Virus removal causes files to be deleted.

“There’s no evidence that any files were deleted after the subpoenas were issued.”

After lunch, Karen Rhodes, who had been given immunity from prosecution at both the Grand Jury and this trial testified.

She explained how the campaign documents that were on her computer and the few political emails got there.

Rhodes said she created and maintained all of the campaign financial records on her laptop at home, but didn’t trust it and copied the records onto the office computer for backup purposes.

She said an email to her office email address from a campaign web site host should have been sent to her home email address and, when the first one came to the office, she told the vendor.

If you will pardon a characterization, I thought Tom Carroll–without a grant of immunity–revealed more damaging information about use of the office for campaign purposes Monday than Rhodes did with one.

Rhodes said after the Amy Dalby investigation she “was more vocal about” use of the office for campaign purposes. “I was upset after the Dalby investigation started.”

Asked about backing up the campaign finance records on the office computer, Rhodes said, “He (Bianchi) had not idea I had done it.”

Ekl went through Prosecution Exhibit after Prosecution Exhibit eliciting explanations of how they got on the office computer.

When he finished, he said,

“We will have a motion for a directed finding.”

After the lunch break Rhodes, who had been given immunity from prosecution to testify took the stand.