McHenry County Blog

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Walsh Stands Up for Victims of Domestic Violence

WASHINGTON – Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2012 (VAWA) that passed the House.

Joe Walsh

“It is our duty as both Americans and Members of Congress to stand up against domestic violence.

“Victims of domestic violence should be protected by all levels of government: local, state, and federal. Since the original legislation passed in 1994, the number of annual incidents has decreased by 53%, while the number of reported incidents has increased by 51%.

“This is evidence that VAWA is making a difference and keeping victims safe.

“Our country was founded on the principle that the core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore the government should foster and protect its integrity.

“This bill does just that.

“It is crucial that we maintain a presence on this issue and continue to fight to end domestic violence in this country.

“This question was asked to me during the debate.

“I promised that since the vote was this week, I would let people know how I voted and why.”

H.R. 4970 Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2012 (VAWA) passed the House by a vote of 222-205. This bill reauthorizes funding for VAWA grant programs for 5 years and provides more than $660 million annually to help protect victims of abuse and prevent domestic violence.

Robert Signorile

The subject of an arrest for domestic homicide, 44-year old Robert Sitnorile of 12,966 Rock Springs in Huntley, has been indicted by the McHenry County Grand Jury for First Degree Murder.

“Signorile is accused of striking Michelle Mathieu repeatedly knowing that such acts created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm and were accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty,” according the the original press release from the Huntley Police Department.

You can read the press release about Michelle Mathieu’s death here.

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department:

Domestic Battery/Aggravated Battery Arrest

Thomas J. Puchmelte

On Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at approximately 4:00 PM the Crystal Lake Police arrested Thomas J. Puchmelter (42) of 169 Sunnyside Ave., Crystal Lake, charging him with

• Domestic Battery (Class A Misdemeanor) and
• two counts of Aggravated Battery (Class 4 Felonies).

The subsequent investigation revealed the following in summary:

That in the early morning hours on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 alleged offender (Thomas J. Puchmelter) had requested the victim, his 70 year old mother, take him to the hospital due to chest pains he was experiencing.

While the victim was preparing to take him to the hospital, the offender became verbally and physically confrontational with the victim.

At that time (approximately 4:00 am) the offender grabbed the victim by the arms causing her to fall to the floor.

The offender subsequently returned to his room and the situation deescalated.

Later the same day (approximately 1:30 PM), the victim’s attention was again drawn to the offender when she heard loud noises coming from his bedroom. When she went to investigate she observed the offender striking the wall with a baseball bat.

The victim left the room, went into the living room of the residence and was followed by the offender who remained armed with the wooden baseball bat.

A series of violent acts are alleged to have occurred at that point which include the offender using the bat several times

• to strike a bookcase near the victim,
• to strike the victim in her hand while she held a cordless phone,
• to strike her on the left leg near her knee,
• to strike the victim on the left side of her neck, and
• holding the bat on her throat for a short period of time.

Subsequent to the apparent unprovoked attack, the victim fled her residence and came to the police station where she reported the incident in person.

The subsequent police investigation did note that the victim had several minor injuries that were consistent with the account she had provided to police officers.

The victim declined any medical attention regarding the injuries sustained in the attack by her son.

The subsequent investigation culminated in the arrest of the offender just outside of his residence at which time the offender was uncooperative and combative with police.

During the course of attempting to process the offender at the police station, he continued to be noncompliant and aggressive with police and had to be restrained.

He was subsequently transported to the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility where he currently remains in custody awaiting his first court appearance for bond.

Thomas J. Puchmelter (M/W/42 yoa) lives at 169 Sunnyside Ave, Crystal Lake, IL.

Jamie J. Richards,

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department:

On Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 at approximately 5:00 a.m., a 25 year old female complainant came to the police department and reported that she had been the victim of domestic violence, held against her will, and that her life had been threatened.

The subsequent investigation revealed on that date from approximately 1:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. the complainant’s husband had allegedly punched, choked, held the complainant against her will, and made death threats to the extent of holding a knife to her throat.

Police ultimately obtained warrants for the complainant’s 30 year old husband, Jamie J. Richards, in regard to this incident.

Richards was charged with

• Aggravated Domestic Battery (Class 2 Felony),
• Unlawful Restraint (Class 4 felony), Unlawful Interference with the Reporting of Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault (both Class A misdemeanors),

as a result of a report of an incident involving a family member on October 2nd, 2010 at his residence.

Richards was transferred to the McHenry County Jail where he made an appearance in bond court where

• his bond was set at $60,000.00,
• a no contact order was issued, and
• a court date of 10/12/10 was set. He currently remains in the custody of the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility.

The following press release has been received from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office:

Man Found Guilty of Felony Domestic Battery

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that a McHenry County jury found Michael S. Braun guilty of the felony offense of Domestic Battery on February 18, 2010 following a three day trial.

The Defendant was charged with physically assaulting his girlfriend by grabbing her around the neck and throwing her over an office chair.

Following the guilty verdict, Judge Joseph Joseph Condon revoked the Defendant’s bond until the future sentencing date of April 1, 2010.

Due to a prior domestic battery conviction, Defendant faces a sentence of probation or one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Defendant faces an additional charge of Harassment of a Witness stemming from an April 2008 arrest–that charge is currently pending.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Sharyl Eisenstein and Kirk Chrzanowski.

This case further highlights Louis Bianchi’s aggressive stance against domestic violence.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has succeeded in obtaining a guilty plea from a second time domestic violence offender. The press release follows:

ANOTHER EVIDENCE- BASED PROSECUTION SUCCESSFUL FELONY PROSECUTION

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally successfully prosecuted another evidence-based prosecution case.

Donald Jordan was charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery (felony offense) in September 2007 for striking his wife with an iron key chain resulting in 2 lacerations which required sutures.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kenneally went forward with the case despite the unavailability of the victim as a witness.

He planned to present photos of the victim, blood evidence in the home and the victim’s statement to a hospital nurse as evidence.

The defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 2 years probation, 60 days McHenry County jail, successful completion of partner abuse classes, no contact with the victim, $1,000.00 fine and agreed to consume no alcohol during the period of probation.

A felony conviction was entered upon his record. The defendant was eligible for a felony charge because the victim suffered great bodily harm.

Additionally, the defendant had a prior domestic battery conviction. Under Illinois law, a defendant may be eligible for a felony on the second offense.

The evidence-based prosecution approach to domestic violence was initiated by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2007 to increase the number of successful domestic violence prosecutions in which the victim is uncooperative and/or unavailable for testimony.

The following press release was received from Kelli’s Cuckoo’s Nest in Cary:

Meat Raffle to Benefit Turning Point

Kelli’s Cuckoo’s Nest in Cary will host a Meat Raffle to benefit Turning Point on Saturday, March 28th, from 2-5 PM.

They will be donating 10% of the register plus the proceeds from the raffle.
Kelli’s Cuckoo’s Nest is at 100 Crystal St. (Route 14) in Cary, right across the highway from the train station.

Turning Point is a domestic violence agency with a mission to confront violence against women and children in McHenry County, Illinois.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, along with the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council 22nd Judicial Circuit, announces that a Domestic Violence Mock Trial training will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the McHenry County Government Center at 1:30 pm in Courtroom 204.

The training, open to all police departments in McHenry County and the Illinois State Police, will be presented by Demetrios Tsilimigras, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Patrick Kenneally, specially assigned Domestic Violence prosecutor.

In addition, on Friday, February 20th, Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally will provide law enforcement training on Evidenced Based Prosecution, will be held at the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Grand Jury Room at 8:15 am and again at 2:00 pm. It is open to all police department dispatchers in McHenry County and the Illinois State Police

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, along with the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council 22nd Judicial Circuit, announces that a Domestic Violence Mock Trial training will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the McHenry County Government Center at 1:30 pm in Courtroom 204.

The training, open to all police departments in McHenry County and the Illinois State Police, will be presented by Demetrios Tsilimigras, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Patrick Kenneally, specially assigned Domestic Violence prosecutor.

In addition, on Friday, February 20th, Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally will provide law enforcement training on Evidenced Based Prosecution, will be held at the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Grand Jury Room at 8:15 am and again at 2:00 pm. It is open to all police department dispatchers in McHenry County and the Illinois State Police

A story I planned to write fell through the Rod Blagojevich arrest day crack.

Jane Farmer, Executive Director of Turning Point wrote a letter which I’d like to share with you. It follows:

Congratulations on the recent conviction regarding the 911 domestic violence call with (the) Harvard Police Department. Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally did an outstanding job of prosecuting this case.

I am impressed with the work Patrick did as well as your stand on holding domestic violence perpetrators accountable for their actions.

This certainly proves once again that evidence based prosecution not only can work, it truly does work.

As you well know, domestic violence cases are difficult to handle, often having a victim recant or flee based on fear or lack of options.

This was an amazing case and will help keep our county that much safer.

Thank you again for the work you and your staff do and I applaud your office’s efforts to continue assisting Turning Point in our mission to “Confront Violence Against Women and Children in McHenry County.”

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