No new trial for Humpfer

After hearing — and denying — a motion for a new trial, Judge James Hallock scheduled Trustee Paul Humpfer to be sentenced on June 19. The sentencing will come more than 3 months after Humpfer was found guilty of attacking his wife with a baseball bat during a domestic dispute.

Humpfer attorney, Van Richards, requested a new trial, in part, because he said some testimony was not considered strongly enough by Hallock; namely that of Humpfer’s 8-year-old son, who was present when the incident took place. (Illinois law also considers the crime as committed “in the presence of a child”, which makes the lesser charge even more problematic because a charge of aggravated domestic battery — as it should have been — would then have carried an automatic, minimum 10 day jail sentence, 300 hours community service, or both simply because it was committed in his son’s presence).

Further, according to the American Bar Association, “the testimony of young children is viewed more skeptically … than that of adults, because of concerns over suggestibility, manipulation, coaching, or confusing fact with fantasy.”

Humpfer’s attorney also said that because the Judge attended the same high school as President Bill Sarto (although 3 years behind Sarto), a new trial should be granted.

Additionally, it was also disclosed that Judge Hallock is the brother-in-law of former Trustee Bob Whitehouse. Folks may recall that Whitehouse resigned his Trustee position so that Humpfer could be appointed to that position after Humpfer lost the race for Village President in 2005 (and the Trustee seat to which he had been previously appointed was expiring at the end of that month). This action, which many considered to be a travesty, enabled him to remain on the Board for another 2 years — until he finally won an election in 2007, based on his support for the anti-illegal immigration ordinance.

Earlier this month, some members of the Village Board (all part of the same political group) said that Humpfer’s conviction of domestic battery did not cause him to forfeit his seat on the Board, and Humpfer has vowed not to resign. Humpfer also has been living out of state since his legal troubles began with an order of protection against him on June 25, 2007.

When does mud-slinging become something else?

Since the conviction of Paul Humpfer on charges of domestic battery in March 2008, some have said that anyone who thinks Humpfer should resign or be removed from office for his crimes are doing nothing but “mud-slinging”.

So it raises the question, when does it cease to be mud-slinging?

After all, Paul Humpfer was found guilty of committing a very serious crime, which included him using a baseball bat in the commission of battery.

Is the statement I just made considered “mud-slinging”?

Or is it a statement of truth, seeking accountability for such actions?

Daily Action Report: May 15, 2008

Good morning, Carpentersville!

There is a meeting tonight at 7pm of the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Another chilly start to the day. Who would have thought that we’d still have the heat on at night in the middle of May?! The weather should be similar to yesterday, with more sun in the morning, then cloud rolling in later, but no rain expected.

Paul Humpfer is expected back in court today. He was to be sentenced in April after being found guilty of domestic battery on March 5, 2008. However, Judge James Hallock granted his attorney more time to read the court transcript, in order to prepare an appeal or get the Judge to reverse his ruling.

Yesterday, Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski was at a municipal hearing on a $75 ticket she received for disorderly conduct. The citation was issued after she allegedly told children climbing in a tree to “come down and stop acting like a bunch of monkeys”. The children happened to be black, and reportedly considered it a racial slur.

Ms. Sliwinski maintains that she did not intend it that way. It seems obvious that she was referring to their actions, not to the children themselves. Ms. Sliwinski and the neighbors have since reconciled the matter privately.

So, the deep problems in Carpentersville continue, as they gain national attention for again trying to squash free speech.  (Folks might remember when Trustee Judy Sigwalt tried to have President (Mayor) Bill Sarto censured for private emails he sent which mysteriously ended up in her hands.)

Carpentersville is now known nationally for so many things:  anti-illegal immigration fight, a meaningless “English-only” resolution, and now this.

Anyone wonder why businesses don’t want to come to town?  Who would want to advertise, directing people to “our Carpentersville location”?