McHenry County Blog

Ron Salgado

Friday afternoon in a Rockford hearing, Winnebago County Judge Joesph McGraw dismissed the charges against Ron Salagdo, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Chief Investigator.

This the third set of charge brought by Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan that have been dismissed.

This is the first time charges have been dismissed without any evidence having been presented by the Tonigan or his colleague Thomas McQueen.

The second set three charges against Bianchi, whose dismissal had also been requested, still remain and are scheduled to go to trial on August 1st.

Also still pending is the charge against investigator Michael McCleary, but his attorney intends on presenting his Motion to Dismiss (for Prosecutor Misconduct by McQueen and Tonigan) sometime soon.

As with the cases dismissed against Bianchi and his assistant Joyce Synek, McHenry County taxpayers are on the hook for Salgado’s defense costs.

Some wonder, "How much more money is in the taxpayers' honey pot?"

Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s bill for his multi-year investigation of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s alleged misuse of office resources for political purposes took another step Monday when he filed a bill for August through November of last year.

It was for almost $90,800.

That brings the total almost to $312,300.

Besides the original scope of the investigation, he and Thomas McQueen, the man billing for the most legal time for the four months, have expanded their probe with the approval of Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham to include official acts of alleged favoritism by State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and a “nephew” of his Investigator Ron Salgado who was attending Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake.

In addition, Bianchi is charged with “agree(ing) to recognizance bond in a felony theft case for…John Doe #3 who Bianchi said was his ‘nephew’ and that the Assistant State’s Attorney should continue the case until a first offender program was in place in McHenry County so John Doe #3 could have the benefit of that program.”

Bianchi has denied that he had a nephew who got into trouble.

Similar allegations have been lodged against State’s Attorney Investigator Ron Salgado for some shirttail nephew resulting from a long-ago divorce of a relative.

A second investigator has been charged with using his car for personal purposes.

Page one (Count 1) of the February 24, 2011, indictment. Click to enlarge.

Last Thursday Special State’s Attorney Henry Tonigan filed a second indictment against McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Tonigan held a press conference about his grand jury’s four-day ago indictments today, but didn’t let me know it was to be held. (I assume he didn’t want me to ask questions about how much he was earning an hour, which he has thus far refused to reveal, along with submitting any itemized bills.)

Besides Bianchi, he also indicted two of his investigators, Ron Salgado and Michael McCleary. Salgado served as Bianchi’s campaign manager and the campaign manager of Tom Sanders when he ran against appointed Sheriff Keith Nygren in the late 1990′s.

Tonigan’s indictments question the discretion of Bianchi, charging him with having committed criminal acts in its exercise.

Page 2 (Count 2) of the February 24, 2011, indictment. Click to enlarge.

Here are the four counts:

Count 1 – Official Misconduct, a Class 3 Felony

Bianchi is accused of violating “Section 33-3(b) of Act 5 of Chapter 720″ by “knowingly perform(ing) acts which he knew was forbidden by law to perform in connection with the Class X felony drug prosecution…of John Doe #1…known by Bianchi to be the nephew of Ronald Salgado, Chief Investigator of the State’s Attorney’s Office…Bianchi directed an Assistant State’s Attorney to reduce (the)…negotiated sentence from five to four years which he knew to violate:

• Equal Protection rights of similarly situated defendants, Illinois Constitution 1970, Article 1, Par. 2
• 

  Page 3 (Count 3) of the February 24, 2011, indictment. Click to enlarge.

  Ethical requirements of candor to a tribunal, 2010 Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, Section 3.3(a)(1)

• Duty of a prosecutor to seek justice, 2010 Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, Section 3.8
• Ethical requirement that lawyers not engage in professional misconduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, 2010 Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, Section 8.4 (a) through (c).

Count 2 indicts Ron Salgado for Class 3 Felony for communicating to as Assistant State’s Attorney as a “non-lawyer” that his “nephew(‘s)” sentence should be reduced from five to four years.

Page 4 (Count 4) of the February 24, 2011, indictment. Click to enlarge.

Count 3 – Official Misconduct, Class 3 Felony

Bianchi is accused of “direct(ing) an Assistant State’s Attorney to meet with the victim in People v. John Doe #2 and offer her an apology from John Doe #2 in return for her dismissal of the pending criminal complaint knowing that John Doe #2, his family members including his attorney had all contributed to Bianchi’s political campaign which direction he knew to violate (the same references cited in Count 1.)”

Count 4 – Official Misconduct, Class 3 Felony

Bianchi is accused of “agree(ing) to recognizance bond in a felony theft case for…John Doe #3 who Bianchi said was his ‘nephew’ and that the Assistant State’s Attorney should continue the case until a first offender program was in place in McHenry County so John Doe #3 could have the benefit of that program.”

Page 5 of the February 24, 2011, indictment contains a list of grand jury witnesses. Click to enlarge.

Violations?

Same as in Counts 1 and 5.

Witnesses who appeared before the grand jury are listed:

• Thomas J. Carroll
• Jessica Carrier
• Kirk Chzanowski
• Christopher Harmon
• William Stanton
• Kurt Maznur
• Thomas Sullivan
• Robert Seigalski
• Demitri Tsilimigras

= = = = =
When McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi held his press conference to announce the First Offender Program, he used this example:

a man who rented a car and then rented to someone else to make some money to support his family and a shoplifter who stole not too much more than the $210 that qualifies for a felony arrest.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, Chief of the Criminal Division Phil Hiscock and First Offender Program Administrator Pam Van Diggelen outline the new program to reporters in the Grand Jury Room.

Could one of these cases refer to John Doe #3?

Bianchi’s attorney’s statement about the second indictment is here.

I’ll do a separate story on Michael McCleary’s indictment.

Over seven years after Brian Carrick disappeared from his job at the Johnsburg grocery store across from his home, charges have been filed against Mario Casciaro.

The investigation included the FBI, Federal Marshal’s Service, the Johnsburg Police Department and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

State’s Attorney’s Office Files Charges in Eight Year Old Carrick Cold Case

Lou Bianchi

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, reports that on February 25, 2010, the Grand Jury returned a six-count Bill of Indictment against Defendant Mario Casciaro, charging him with First Degree Murder (five counts) and Concealment of a Homicidal Death.

The Indictment alleges that on or about December 20, 2002, Mario Casciaro, or one whose conduct he is legally accountable for, while committing the forcible felony offenses of Intimidation, Unlawful Restraint, and Mob Action, struck Brian Carrick in the head and thereby caused his death.

The Indictment further alleges that Mario Casciaro concealed the death of Brian Carrick with knowledge that Carrick died by homicidal means.

The offense of First Degree Murder carries a fixed term sentencing range of 20-60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with no day for day / good time credit to apply.

The offense of Concealment of a Homicidal Death is a Class 3 Felony which carries a sentencing range of 2-5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.  By statute, the penalty for this offense must be imposed separately and in addition to the penalty for First Degree Murder.

Defendant Mario Casciaro was apprehended in Fox Lake, IL on February 26, 2010 at approximately 4:30 p.m. by the Johnsburg Police Department. He is being held on a $5 million dollar bond.

The above-referenced charges resulted from the joint and collective investigatory efforts of the FBI (Casey J. Solana, Acting Supervisor for the Rockford office and Special Agent Randy L. Sealby), the Johnsburg Police Department (Chief Rydberg and Detective Keith VonAllmen), the U.S. Marshal’s Service – Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office (Ron Salgado, Chief of Investigations).

The length of the investigation totaled more than seven years.

The charges against the defendant are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

With the defeat of McHenry County Board Vice Chairman John Jung by Lake in the Hills Village Trustee Paula Yensen, the race is on to replace him.

The post pays extra, a new benefit since my father served in the position before he died in 1989.

Two candidates have emerged.

Both are women.

State Rep. Mike Tryon’s legislative assistant Tina Hill is soliciting votes. She is from Woodstock.

Also seeking votes from her colleagues is Sandra Salgado, who lives in McHenry.

It’s no big secret that Hill would like to run for countywide office.

I’m not sure ideology matters in a race for the number two county board spot, but my impression is that Hill is more liberal than Salgado.

I would assume that Hill is more closely allied with County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

He named her to chair the Management Services Committee.

I remember her handling the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax issue on the board floor.

Salgado is vice chair of the Public Health & Human Services Committee.

Salgado’s father, Ron, was manager of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s successful campaign.

The day job of this former Deputy Sheriff is that of investigator for the office.

The father also managed the campaign of Tom Sanders when he unsuccessfully ran against Keith Nygren in the GOP primary for sheriff.

Alden’s Don Larsen was vice chairman before Jung.

= = = = =
The photo of John Jung at the top of the article was taken in June at the Pro-Life Pig Roast at Resurrection Center. The picture of Tina Hill was taken Monday during the Management Services Committee meeting. The one of Sandra Salgado was taken after an earlier county board meeting.

With the defeat of McHenry County Board Vice Chairman John Jung by Lake in the Hills Village Trustee Paula Yensen, the race is on to replace him.

The post pays extra, a new benefit since my father served in the position before he died in 1989.

Two candidates have emerged.

Both are women.

State Rep. Mike Tryon’s legislative assistant Tina Hill is soliciting votes. She is from Woodstock.

Also seeking votes from her colleagues is Sandra Salgado, who lives in McHenry.

It’s no big secret that Hill would like to run for countywide office.

I’m not sure ideology matters in a race for the number two county board spot, but my impression is that Hill is more liberal than Salgado.

I would assume that Hill is more closely allied with County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

He named her to chair the Management Services Committee.

I remember her handling the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax issue on the board floor.

Salgado is vice chair of the Public Health & Human Services Committee.

Salgado’s father, Ron, was manager of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s successful campaign.

The day job of this former Deputy Sheriff is that of investigator for the office.

The father also managed the campaign of Tom Sanders when he unsuccessfully ran against Keith Nygren in the GOP primary for sheriff.

Alden’s Don Larsen was vice chairman before Jung.

= = = = =
The photo of John Jung at the top of the article was taken in June at the Pro-Life Pig Roast at Resurrection Center. The picture of Tina Hill was taken Monday during the Management Services Committee meeting. The one of Sandra Salgado was taken after an earlier county board meeting.

Republican precinct committeemen from throughout McHenry County converged on Crystal Lake Friday night and Saturday morning to pick up literature to distribute for federal and county candidates.

When I got there shortly before 11 Saturday morning, it was hard to find a parking space. People were filling car trunks with candidate signs.

Nick Provenzano and Mary Donner, both running for re-election for the McHenry County Board from District 2 were there.

In the back room where the literature was Lou Bianchi’s campaign manager Ron Salgado talking with McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz, Donner and Nunda Township precinct committeeman Bob Borchert. In the background, you can see McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer talking to McHenry County Board member John Jung.

On top you see a sign saying that McCain-Palin signs are available. Don’t think that the McCain campaign is spending big bucks in Illinois. The McHenry County Republican Central Committee is buying them so local partisans can have them. You don’t have to make a contribution to get one, but they signs have to be paid for.

I also saw this tee shirt for sale.

The one you see, priced at $20, may be the last one left.

Again, the local party purchased them for resale. If you want one ordered for you, call headquarters at 815-444-1910 and ask to be put on the list.

And, of course, volunteers are still needed. The goal is to keep the headquarters open from 9 to 9, County Chairman Mike Tryon told me last night at the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting dinner.

Republican precinct committeemen from throughout McHenry County converged on Crystal Lake Friday night and Saturday morning to pick up literature to distribute for federal and county candidates.

When I got there shortly before 11 Saturday morning, it was hard to find a parking space. People were filling car trunks with candidate signs.

Nick Provenzano and Mary Donner, both running for re-election for the McHenry County Board from District 2 were there.

In the back room where the literature was Lou Bianchi’s campaign manager Ron Salgado talking with McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz, Donner and Nunda Township precinct committeeman Bob Borchert. In the background, you can see McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer talking to McHenry County Board member John Jung.

On top you see a sign saying that McCain-Palin signs are available. Don’t think that the McCain campaign is spending big bucks in Illinois. The McHenry County Republican Central Committee is buying them so local partisans can have them. You don’t have to make a contribution to get one, but they signs have to be paid for.

I also saw this tee shirt for sale.

The one you see, priced at $20, may be the last one left.

Again, the local party purchased them for resale. If you want one ordered for you, call headquarters at 815-444-1910 and ask to be put on the list.

And, of course, volunteers are still needed. The goal is to keep the headquarters open from 9 to 9, County Chairman Mike Tryon told me last night at the Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting dinner.

I didn’t make it to McHenry County State’s Attorney’s literature stuffing and sign construction (work) party until after I dropped my son off at the McHenry West High School pool for a swim meet with the Woodstock Dolphins about 12:30 Saturday.

From the pictures I’ve seen, the 5-10 people left shortly thereafter were but a small remnant of those who were there during the morning.

“We finished before noon because of the huge turnout,” one friend of McHenry County Blog told me. “The support was outstanding. About 125 people showed up to work.”

8th congressional district Republican primary candidate Steve Greenberg was there for about three hours. While he was getting to know people, two of his supporters helped complete the tasks at hand.

When Bianchi was introducing Greenberg, he noted that both had “prominent” noses.

Greenberg replied that they both had a “nose for politics.” He said he was so impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of Bianchi’s supporters.

“We have to get Lou re-elected,” Greenberg said. He also thanked Lou for being a mentor to him in his election.

Bianchi spoke shortly and emotionally that he “was humbled by this turnout and support.”

The State’s Attorney also introduced 2 servicemen. One, Captain Joe Salgado (son of his campaign manager Ron Salgado) is on a short leave from Iraq. He will return to Iraq in two weeks. The other young man was Jake Shaw, who just returned from serving the military in Japan.

Also in attendance was Tom Low, husband of McHenry Mayor Sue Low, and Rich Kelly, candidate for the GOP nomination for County Auditor.

“Everyone was pumped and had a wonderful time. It was ‘brotherhood,’ a ‘family’ working toward a common goal,” my source reported.

Another in attendance pointed out that Captain Salgado is the XO (executive officer) of his infantry company and he is a Ranger. He returns in about a week.

Salgado “stopped by to thank Lou for sending him several care packages. He also thanked Tony Scimeca and Eileen Marhoefer for their care packages and Karen Rhodes for her daily prayers.”

= = = = =
Shown in the top photograph from left to right is McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, Capt. Joe Salgado and congressional candidate Steve Greenberg. I have split the other photo in half, so you can get an idea of how crowded the room was.

I didn’t make it to McHenry County State’s Attorney’s literature stuffing and sign construction (work) party until after I dropped my son off at the McHenry West High School pool for a swim meet with the Woodstock Dolphins about 12:30 Saturday.

From the pictures I’ve seen, the 5-10 people left shortly thereafter were but a small remnant of those who were there during the morning.

“We finished before noon because of the huge turnout,” one friend of McHenry County Blog told me. “The support was outstanding. About 125 people showed up to work.”

8th congressional district Republican primary candidate Steve Greenberg was there for about three hours. While he was getting to know people, two of his supporters helped complete the tasks at hand.

When Bianchi was introducing Greenberg, he noted that both had “prominent” noses.

Greenberg replied that they both had a “nose for politics.” He said he was so impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of Bianchi’s supporters.

“We have to get Lou re-elected,” Greenberg said. He also thanked Lou for being a mentor to him in his election.

Bianchi spoke shortly and emotionally that he “was humbled by this turnout and support.”

The State’s Attorney also introduced 2 servicemen. One, Captain Joe Salgado (son of his campaign manager Ron Salgado) is on a short leave from Iraq. He will return to Iraq in two weeks. The other young man was Jake Shaw, who just returned from serving the military in Japan.

Also in attendance was Tom Low, husband of McHenry Mayor Sue Low, and Rich Kelly, candidate for the GOP nomination for County Auditor.

“Everyone was pumped and had a wonderful time. It was ‘brotherhood,’ a ‘family’ working toward a common goal,” my source reported.

Another in attendance pointed out that Captain Salgado is the XO (executive officer) of his infantry company and he is a Ranger. He returns in about a week.

Salgado “stopped by to thank Lou for sending him several care packages. He also thanked Tony Scimeca and Eileen Marhoefer for their care packages and Karen Rhodes for her daily prayers.”

= = = = =
Shown in the top photograph from left to right is McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, Capt. Joe Salgado and congressional candidate Steve Greenberg. I have split the other photo in half, so you can get an idea of how crowded the room was.