McHenry County Blog

Greg Pyle

My guess is that Chicago media will be reporting on the arrest of McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Greg Pyle on, maybe even before, Monday.

Ten counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, according to Illinois State Police Spokesperson Monique Bond.

Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Gene Lowery told me that his Department was not involved.

I learned from State Police Public Information Officer Bond that the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office requested that state agency’s assistance.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s investigators and the State Police’s District 2 Investigative Division personnel led the way.

The allegations surfaced on Friday.

“It was very fluid here,” she said Sunday.

Bianchi could not be reached for comment.

As of early Sunday afternoon, the Northwest Herald was running with an unposted press release from Keith Nygren’s department. The NWH reports the press release says the cause for police involvement “domestic issue involving the officer and his family.”

That is at wide variance with what Woodstock Advocate‘s Gus Philpott has written.  See

• Widespread Search Underway
• “Hey, G.P.  Give It Up”
• Why is MCSD Keeping Mum?
• Greg Pyle – 10 Counts, Criminal Sexual Assault
• Open Letter to Nygren and Zinke
• What If Nygren Had Lost in 2008?

First Electric Newspaper weighed in with this article:

• Sheriff’s Sergeant Released on Bond

The new masthead of "Dirty Harry vs. Dirty Keith."

Also weighing in is Dave Bachmann, who has put his “Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry” blog back up…at least the part about Greg Pyle.  His masthead now says, “Again, “Dirty Keith Blog” Was On Target!”

• We’ve Got Em On the Run
• McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Greg Pyle — 10 Counts Criminal Sexual Assault??
• Again I was correct ALL ALONG!! “RERUN POST”

There are too many more articles which you might find of interest.

Also found on the internet is the following paragraph:

“In a recent interview with Detective Gregory Pyle of the McHenry County Sheriff’s department, I learned that approximately 1 in 5 children with full internet access were approached by a predator on the internet last year. Detective Pyle is a member of the Illinois Chapter of the ICAC, or Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. The task force is a subset of The Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Department of Justice. Education is the key according to Detective Pyle. Unfortunately they do not have the budget to educate everyone. This, I believe, is our Calling.”

The motion by Gus Philpott that led to the quashing of Keith Nygren attorney's subpoena. Click to enlarge.

Acting as his own attorney, Woodstock Advocate blogger Gus Philpott prevailed Wednesday in Magistrate P. Michael Mahoney against McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren lawyer.

James Sotos, Nygren’s attorney in former Deputy Sheriff Zane Seipler’s wrongful termination suit, sent his associate Elizabeth Barton to try to get the judge to enforce a February 24th subpoena seeking emails over a 27-month period to and from present and former Sheriff’s Department employees, among other, Zane Seipler, yours truly, etc.  The time period pretty much covered the entire sheriff’s campaign.

Philpott, who did not received the subpoena until three days before it was due argued in a motion filed March 9th that

• the three day period was inadequate,
• he was not a party to the case,
• what was requested was irrelevant to the case

Judge Mahoney immediately asked the contents of the subpoena.

Gus Philpott leaves the Federal Courthouse in Rockford free from a subpoenas asking for emails relating to the Sheriff's deputies, preset and past, Zane Seipler, Cal Skinner, etc.

It became clear quite quickly that Nygren’s defenders were seeking the names of deputies who may have provided information to Philpott which the Sheriff would rather have been kept secret, information that Sotos associate Elizabeth Barton said was “confidential to the Sheriff’s Department.”

How would the information be used, Magistrate Mahoney wanted to know.

“During depositions” was all I got down before Mahoney asked, “To impeach witnesses. I’m not quite sure (I understand).

James Sotos Associate Elizabeth Barton leaves the Federal Courthouse.

“You understand that he’s not a party?” he continued before asking about the 27-month period.

Barton said they were looking for “anything relevant to the (case) about what certain deputies may have said during roll call.”

Addressing Philpott, the judge said,
“If you had done a blog and you had put in the blog, ‘I know who robed a bank,’ obviously they could (subpoena that information)?”

After making that point, Mahoney said, “This seems to me awfully broad. You’re going to have to get more surgical in this. What do you want and why you’re after it.”

So, the Motion to Quash was granted because the scope of the information (emails) sought was overbroad– covering a 27-month period and thereby unduly burdensome on a non-party to the case.

“I’ll give you one more try. If you found information that was relevant…has to be relevant to this law suit.”

At this stage, Philpott started writing down what Barton said.

According to him, Barton said, “(Seipler) was terminated for complaining about racial profiling.”

If that’s what she said, it seems to me that’s what Seipler’s wrongful termination case is all about.

“But couldn’t you ask Mr. Seipler?” Mahoney asked.

“We’re looking for the identification of the deputies (who made the information public and so far we haven’t found them),” Barton replied.

Philpott was given an opportunity to talk at this point.

As soon as he mentioned that the subpoena was overly broad, the judge said, “I’ve got that.”

Philpott continued that “certain screen names are unfamiliar to me” (some commenters emails had been requested) and complained about the volume of emails over the 27-month period.

He didn’t get to say much before Mahoney ruled,
“I’m going to quash this subpoena and give you a second chance.”

He warned that it had to be “reasonable.” He also commented on the burden that it wold place on “a third party.”

Green Party State Treasurer candidate Scott Summers, who opposed building a taaxpyer-subsidized minor league baseball stadium while he served on the McHenry County College Board, leads Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney out of the Woodstock Metra Station. Whitney is riding an recumbent bicycle.  (Any image may be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I don’t know which is the bigger story:

• Green Party candidate Rich Whitney’s coming to McHenry County or
• the Northwest Herald’s finally covering a 2010 gubernatorial appearance in McHenry County

Let’s start with Whitney.

Metra train pulling into Woodstock at 9 AM.

I made it to the Woodstock train station before the train pulled in.  There were messages telling folks to stay behind the yellow line.

Northwest Herald reporter Sarah Sutscek, Green Party McHenry County Board candidate Frank Wedig, Green Party State Treasurer Scott Summers wait for the 9 AM Metra train.

Waiting were local Green Party candidates Frank Wedig and Scott Summers, plus a Northwest Herald reporter Sarah Sutscek.  (You can read her story here.)

Both Summers and Wedig, McHenry County Sheriff’s candidate Gus Philpott, owe their ability to be on the fall ballot to Rich Whitney’s receiving more than 5% of the vote for governor in 2006.

That accomplishment—one that I spectacularly missed for the Libertarian Party in 2002—established the Green Party as what I call a “power party.” It meant local Green candidates could get on the ballot with the same relatively small number of petition signatures as Democrats and Republicans.  To continue to have that privilege for the next four years, someone on the Green Party ticket must get 5% this fall.

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney rode on a car that was not near where the welcoming committee and I were standing.  You see him with his recumbent bicycle.

I wanted to get a photo of Whitney getting off the Metra train, but the announcement of today’s schedule didn’t reveal in which car he would ride.

Philpott had gone to Barrington to ride with the candidate and campaign manager Lynne Serpe. He got off first and got the photo I wanted. Mine had to be taken from afar.

McHenry County Green Party Sheriff’s candidate Gus Philpott accompanies gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney to the train station.

But I did get one of Philpott and Whitney approaching those of us who were awaiting his arrival.

From left to right, Rich Whitney, Scott Summers, Frank Wedig and Lynee Serpe.

Greetings and introductions were exchanged among the Green candidates.

The Northwest Herald reporter Sarah Sutscek introduced herself to Rich Whitney. Scott Summers greeted Gus Philpott.

The Northwest Herald reporter introduced herself.

The interview commences. Northwest Herald reporter Sarah  Sutscek takes notes as Gus Philpott takes photos for his Woodstock Advocate.

Whitney started his press conference and I took pictures, as did Philpott.  His Woodstock Advocate story can be found here.

Green Party candidate for Governor Rich Whitney is watched by Green Party candidate for State Treasurer Scott Summers during his press conference at the Woodstock Train Station.

He told of how this was the early part of his tour of Illinois by mass transit and bicycle.

Rich Whitney answered questions ranging from being included in gubernatorial debates to raising the income tax to having an Amtrak station in McHenry County.

It reminds me of the way that Dan Walker walked the state, starting in Southern Illinois and working north. He go incredible publicity, plus lots of blisters.

Far before the time he got to the Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago television stations were doing stories.

By enticing the Northwest Herald to send a reporter, Whitney could be starting on a similar publicity roll. He is, however, missing the opportunity to build momentum Downstate while working his way toward Chicago.

Whitney told of how he had participated in the Ride of Silence in Chicago. Its route featured bikes painted white where cyclists had been killed while riding.

Rich Whitney being interviewed by Stew Cohen of STAR101-FM. To Whitney’s left is 8th Congressional District Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer. Behind him to the left is Green Party State Treasurer candidate Scott Summers. Summers lives in Harvard, Scheurer in Lake County.

Commenting on riding a bicycle in Chicago, he said,

“It’s a challenge.”

While I was taking photos the Northwest Herald reporter was asking questions.

She asked about whether Whitney expected to be included in any debates. Whitney explained that he had sent invitations to both Governor Pat Quinn and State Senator Bill Brady requesting nine debates. When contacting potential sponsoring organizations, he said they had been receptive.

Whitney, of course, was promoting the use of bicycles and mass transit.

“All of us benefit from a healthier environment.”

People “should be able to get from place to place without using an automobile,” he said.

In the state capital bill, Whitney bemoaned that only $4 billion was earmarked for mass transit when $10 billion had been requested by mass transit advocates.

Rich Whitney

Since he brought up the capital bill, I asked if he favored financing it with video poker.

“No. We need to stop looking at gambling. We’re not going to smoke and drink and gamble our way to fiscal health.

“Gambling tends to act as a hidden tax on the poor.”

Whitney then revealed that he supports a “tax on speculation,” mentioning the Board of Trade and the Board of Options in Chicago.

I asked what income tax hike Whitney favored. He said he favored Senate Bill 750.

As supporters of income taxes always do, Whitney would not say that it was a 67% tax increase. He said the increase was from “3 to 5%.”

He pointed out that it was not just a tax increase, but a “tax restructuring” in which “the bottom 60% don’t pay the higher tax.”

I asked about its imposing an income tax on retirement income, something Illinois presently does not do and he conceded the point, but pointed out that until that pension or other retirement income went “over a certain amount, it wouldn’t tax retirement income.”

His second choice for an income tax hike is House Bill 174, which he described as “705 light.”

The interview wound down.

There was one intriguing idea about which I had not heard previously.

Whitney said he favored a state bank similar to what North Dakota has. The advantage would be that state government could borrow money at the same rate from the Federal Reserve System which private banks can obtain.

That’s zero to .025% in this economic recession.

If Illinois had a state bank, the money could be borrowed to make the multi-billion pension payment now for next to nothing.

I asked if Whitney were willing to support a tax on bicycles to help pay for the bike paths he supports. Specifically, I asked if he would support licensing of bicycles.

“I would be willing to consider that. I think the priority should be simply subsidizing it.”

Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer had arrived at the station and observed mischievously,

“So, you’re not in favor of an Allen wrench tax?”

I mentioned that Governor Quinn had announced that an Amtrak route would run from Chicago through McHenry County to Rockford and beyond and asked if he favored such an expansion of service.

“Absolutely. That’s one think I would agree with the Governor.”

I asked if he favored a stop in McHenry County, something the original Amtrak plan for this route does not envision.

2006 population estimates for Illinois’ fifteen largest counties. Note that McHenry County is sixth largest.

Naturally, I pointed out the relative large population McHenry County has attained. While the smallest county in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area, McHenry County is larger than any other county in Illinois.

“There’s a certain logic. I think you need one in McHenry County.”

The three-some were off to the Woodstock Square to see the Old Courthouse and Jail, where Socialist Presidential Candidate Eugene Debs was held prisoner for a while.

With Summers leading the way, Whitney and Serpe rode off to see Woodstock’s windmill at Other World Computing.   Summers took them to the Woodstock Square so they could see where Eugene Debs had been incarcerated.

The three bicyclists stopped at the stop sign at Business Route 14. While proceeding, they gave hand signals. (Trivia – This is the only intersection in McHenry County that I know where four-way stop signs have replaced traffic lights.)

They then headed down Business Route 14 after making appropriate left turn hand signals at the four-way stop.

My last view of Rich Whitney before I drove out of sight.

The campaigners took the train to Harvard and, then, will bicycle to Rockford where they ought to get good TV coverage. Tomorrow they will bike 50 miles to South Elgin via DeKalb County. I warned the campaign manager Serpe that they might get an Amtrak question in DeKalb County from those whose track route was rejected by Quinn.

= = = = =

Oh, about the Northwest Herald’s coverage of the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

GOP nominee State Senator Bill Brady has been in McHenry County several times, most recently at the April 15th TEA Party demonstration, where he spoke.  It may just be a case of bad advance work on the part of the Brady campaign, but he did speak and got no newspaper coverage.  STAR101-FM’s Stew Cohen did interview Brady there, however.  Earlier, Brady spoke at the McHenry County Republican Central Committee Lincoln Day-Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance.  He also sp0ke at State Rep. Mike Tryon’s fund raiser.

There was no coverage of any of these events in the Northwest Herald.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Woods must have been received bullet fragments wounds worse than folks thought.

So far, only Woodstock Advocate—here and here—and McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Exposed—here and here—have run articles.  You can find my first article with the guts of all the reports written by deputies at the scene and provided by the Sheriff’s Department here.

Not a word yet in the Northwest or the Daily Herald.

Today, I’ll add the information that injured Deputy Eric Woods was not only hospitalized at Centegra’s Woodstock hospital last week right after he received gunshot wounds to his face, right hand, left arm and inner left thigh, but the latter part of this week he was back at Centegra’s McHenry hospital.

As you will imagine, if you read all of the posts by the non-dead tree publications above, there is a real story here, the fullness of which remains to be revealed.

In an article on his Woodstock Advocate entitled,

When did Trustees decide to sue Supervisor?

Philpott’s opening paragraphs are just intriguing:

In an update to this morning’s article about the Grafton Township’s Trustees’ filing a lawsuit against Township Supervisor Linda Moore, this morning I telephoned the Grafton Township Supervisor at her telephone number as published on the Township’s website.

Township Administrator Pam Fender answered the telephone number listed under the Supervisor’s name and told me that she did not know when the Trustees had decided on the lawsuit. Now, how does the Administrator not know the answer to what I would consider a fairly simple and direct question?

Grafton Township Trustees, from left to right, Gerry McMahon, Betty Zirk, Rob LaPorta and Barb Murphy, meeting in open session last Thursday night.

I stayed until the end of the meeting and discussion of the Separation of Powers suit filed by Supervisor Linda Moore by Ancel Glink partner Rob Bush was not even behind closed doors.

There certainly was no motion to sue anyone while the township trustees were in session, let alone the passage of a motion.

So, all you legal eagles reading this, let me know whether you think the decision to file the suit was a violation of the Open Meetings Act.

= = = = =
Incidentally, I called Township Administrator Pam Fender this morning asking for a copy of the suit, but have not received it as of 5 PM. She said she didn’t have one, but would contact Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer.  If it ever comes, it will be interesting to see what the township is billed for sending it.

A while ago, McHenry County Blog took note that the blog

Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry

had something of a counterpart in

The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate

Alas, former Democratic candidate for McHenry County Coroner David Bachmann’s frequent updates have not inspired the anonymous author of “The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate,” to continue posting.

Originally inspired, it seems obvious, by now-Woodstock Green candidate for sheriff Gus Philpott’s blog

The Woodstock Advocate

But in the comments below the story

McHenry County Sheriff’s Race – Blog v. Blog

might entertain you.  Click on the title of the story and have a look at the 20-some comments.  Some are really heated.  Bachmann does not hold back when he is attacked.

As I pointed out September 11th, former McHenry County Coroner candidate Dave Bachmann created an anti-Sheriff Keith Nygren blog. It’s called

“Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry”

It’s an electronic whispering campaign. At least that’s what it reminded me of when I wrote  about it September 23rd.

1,623 people had viewed it then. Now the count is up to 6,027.

I infer that one has been Democratic political campaign consultant James Carville.

Every election cycle has new tools. I remember using the outside of bags that an advertising delivery service put on mailbox posts to hype my campaign for state representative in 1972.

Phyllis Schlafly wrote a cheaply produced book about Barry Goldwater, “A Choice Not an Echo.”

That went hand-in-hand with “A Texan Looks at Lyndon” by J. Evetts Haley.

Haley’s books led to a whispering campaign about how Johnson had stolen the election that put him in the U.S. Senate.

Bachmann’s has covered various aspects of Nygren’s life about which no campaign opponent would want to take the blame.

I won’t itemize them all, but the postings do rely heavily on ridicule, something absolutely no politician can stand.

Bachmann’s blog has led the way to a story even the Northwest Herald could not ignore—the Keith Nygrens having Homestead Exemptions in both McHenry County and Florida. Such a practice is not legal in Florida.

Well, a Nygren supporter has taken up the fight on his blog, which is called

“The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate”

It apparently was started to attack Gus Philpott’s

“Woodstock Advocate”

The latest post on the anti-Woodstock Advocate blog is a flat out attack on Bachmann’s blog.

Thinking about the concept of one blog’s attacking another concept got me thinking of Mad Magazine’s Spy v. Spy.

I never could figure out whether the white or the black spy was the good guy.

Go to both of the battling blogs and make up your own mind.

After the McHenry County Board’s Finance Committee meeting, Chairman Marc Munaretto answered some questions. One of them concerned how the allocation of Federal Stimulus Bonds for McHenry County was $27.5 million, but that there were about to be $33 million in requests.

Since the Woodstock baseball stadium request was for $15 million, that means the other potential request would be $18 million.  Unless multiple requests are in the pipeline.

I pointed out that manufacturing plants have a higher multiplier effect than retail. Or a baseball stadium. With the latter two, there is only so much money in a community to be spent on things and on recreation.

“We’re out beating the bushes right now (for other applicants),” Munaretto commented.

He listed and defended three loan potentials:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Tourism

Commenting on the $33 million in potential bond requests versus the $27.5 million in authorization, Munaretto observed, “We don’t have to fulfill the request,” meaning, I took it, that the entire request for any project would not have to be approved by the county board.

In any event, the mystery may be solved about a major part of the mystery $18 million.

Read this statement from the Erin Smith, Village President of Lakewood:

September 24, 2009

“Since there have recently been reports in the local media about potential development plans in the Village of Lakewood, I thought it would be appropriate and in the best interests of the residents of our community to provide accurate information regarding this development activity,” said President Erin Smith.

“We are currently working with a developer who is interested in building a mixed use project within the Village of Lakewood’s Planning Area, near the intersection of Illinois Route 47 and Illinois Route 176.

“This Planning Area is the result of signed Boundary Agreements with all of our neighboring communities,” she explained, “and has allowed for an orderly and purposeful attitude toward our planning and discussions with developers.”

This general area is designated for commercial development within the Village of Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan and is an area of  “regional commercial significance” within McHenry County’s proposed 2030 Land Use Plan.

She further indicated that the first phase of the proposed development was a multi-use sports complex, including both indoor and outdoor facilities, with ancillary uses as a second phase.

President Smith explained that one of the most appealing aspects of the concept is the sustainable, green development strategy that the developer has outlined.

“We are both committed to the ideals of sustainable development,” said President Smith, “and believe that this concept provides the opportunity to create a strategic environmental plan that will incorporate best management practices and new technologies in all phases of the project and will solidify McHenry County’s reputation as a leader in environmental issues.”

President Smith also noted that this development has strong potential in terms of job creation and overall economic impact to McHenry County.

She finished by saying,

“All of our discussions until this time have been conceptual, and the more detailed analysis is just underway. Any further specifics regarding the project are purely speculative at this time.”

“We expect to have more details available regarding the project within the next few weeks and eagerly anticipate sharing them with the community.”

“The sports complex is Lakewood is targeted for youth.

“It is not targeting a minor league baseball team.

“It should be a nice complement to the proposed Woodstock stadium.”

New ballgame in town?

IL 47 – Why in Lakewood?

The McHenry County Sheriff’s race just got more interesting.

July 29th, Gus Philpott announced he was running for sheriff on the Green Party Ticket.

Now, former sheriff’s deputy Zane Seipler, a resident of Woodstock, has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the office.

In a letter sent to Republican precinct committeemen, Seipler wrote,

“I am sending you this letter to ask for your help in circulating and obtaining signatures for my petition to run for Sheriff. With your help, I think a much needed change can be made in the Sheriff’s Department. Enclosed you will find two petitions…If you have any questions, you may contact me at my campaign phone which is (847) 561-1180 or at ZaneforSheriff@gmail.com.

“I would like to say ‘thank you’ in advance. Rosalinda (my wife) and I are incredibly grateful for your support and assistance…”

So, there will both a GOP primary race and a contest in the general election. And, whether the rumor I picked up at the McHenry County Fair that there will be a Democratic Party challenger remains to be seen.

Seipler is known to readers of McHenry County Blog through the following articles

11-21-8 “Driving While Black” or “Profiling Caucasians?”

11-21-8 What Ex-Deputy Sheriff Zane Seipler Says the Department is Doing Wrong

1-12-9 Discrimination Suit against McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Makes Fox TV

3-6-9 “Driving While Latino”

Incumbent Sheriff Keith Nygren is running for re-election. He had $122,712.48 in his campaign fund on June 30th. Sheriff Nygren is holding a $40 a plate fundraiser on September 10th at Donley’s Wild West Town.

You can find Seipler on the internet at ZaneSeipler4Sheriff.com and “Supporters of Zane Seipler for McHenry County Sheriff” on Facebook

The other candidates for sheriff do not seem to have a campaign web site, although Woodstock’s Philpot does publish “Woodstock Advocate,” a blog with a fair amount of reporting and commentary on law enforcement.