Who are we? A group that has been monitoring the abuses of
various Lake County IL administrations for some time. From Waukegan’s multi-million dollar
towing scandal to various acts of conspiracies and police cover-ups.
This area on the nation’s map has been engaging in some pretty bad practices.
WAUKEGAN -- Former Waukegan security guards Anthony Artley and DeWayne Williams have been found not guilty of bilking the school district out of thousands of dollars.
Circuit Judge John Phillips ruled late Monday afternoon there is not enough evidence to support the allegations.
Williams of Beach Park and Artley of Waukegan were accused of falsifying time cards. Prosecutors alleged that the men worked other jobs during hours when they were supposed to be on duty in Waukegan. They were cleared on six counts of theft each.
That the men were found not guilty came as no surprise to Artley's attorney, Douglas Roberts, who questioned why the men were ever charged.
"I don't think that the judge had any choice," Roberts said. "The state was woefully short in the evidence that they needed (for a guilty verdict)."
During the bench trials, many witnesses -- including the security guards' former supervisor, Al Rogers -- testified that the time sheets turned in by staff only represent hours they are scheduled to work, and not necessarily their actual hours.
Roberts and Williams' attorney, Elliot Pinsel, argued from the beginning of the case that their clients were simply following a protocol that had been in place for years.
Roberts said he thought Rogers' testimony was the most helpful, because he explained that security guards were often allowed to work different hours than what they were scheduled as long as Rogers verbally approved it.
"(Rogers's testimony) had all the weight in the world," Roberts said. "He is a department head, and he is authorized to set shifts and make changes."
Pinsel said he thinks the trial could have been avoided if school officials spoke with Artley and Williams before going to police.
Pinsel said Roberts they don't know what their clients will do next. Williams and Artley lost their jobs with the school district following their arrest, and both were maligned in the press, Pinsel said.
"Where do the guys go to get their reputation back?" he asked
It is amazing how the City of Waukegan continues to get away with their pratices and they called them policies.It a bunch of hog-wash. The City of Waukegan does not care about the citizen. It may appear that way on the outside, but on the inside their are corrupt and looking for any means necessary to chop of the heads of citizens. Example these ridiculous violation fees that are put upon the citizens. Where do they come up with these fees. The money that they collect who benefits from this. It surely is not the community.
How can the citizens of Waukegan sit back and take what these crooked politicans & leaders do in this town. Waukegan is the most corrupt city in Lake County. If I could afford to move I would. I have lived here for years and nothing has changed in 30 years. Politicans and Leaders claim they are going to do some much when they get elected that is a bunch of crap. Not only does stay the same it gets worse. As usual the rich getter richer and poor get slaughterd just like pigs
By BETH KRAMER ekramer@stmedianetwork.com Despite expressing misgivings about the credibility of a police officer who took a Waukegan teen's videotaped murder confession, a Lake County judge ruled to allow the confession as evidence in the upcoming trial.
Willie Walls, 20, admitted on tape to two Waukegan police officers that he shot Herman Allison of Zion in a failed robbery attempt on March 6, 2007. Assistant State's Attorney Reginald Mathews played the videotape for the court Monday.
» Click to enlarge image
Walls
Public defenders Kathleen McGee and Jennifer Snyder sought to suppress the confession.
Waukegan police detectives Dominick Cappelluti and Charles Schletz questioned Walls on video camera about the night of the murder. Cappelluti asked most of the questions, and Schletz served in the role of juvenile advocate during the interview, according to testimony previously given during the hearing.
Walls was 16 at the time of the slaying and had just turned 17 when the detectives interviewed him.
Circuit Judge Fred Foreman told the court he was concerned about the dual role Schletz played during the interview (interviewer and advocate) but still ruled to allow the videotaped confession as evidence during the trial.
Foreman also said he found the defendant's testimony not credible. Walls had previously testified that the officers had promised him a lighter sentence if he cooperated. Police told him that he would be out of prison by his 21st birthday, he stated during the March 11 hearing.
After securing this promise off-camera, Walls went ahead and confessed to the botched robbery, according to testimony given during the hearing.
Capepelluti testified that no such promise was made.
Walls is due back in court for status May 24. The trial is scheduled for June 21.
Guards Found Not Guilty Of Alleged Pay Scam
ReplyDeleteWAUKEGAN -- Former Waukegan security guards Anthony Artley and DeWayne Williams have been found not guilty of bilking the school district out of thousands of dollars.
Circuit Judge John Phillips ruled late Monday afternoon there is not enough evidence to support the allegations.
Williams of Beach Park and Artley of Waukegan were accused of falsifying time cards. Prosecutors alleged that the men worked other jobs during hours when they were supposed to be on duty in Waukegan. They were cleared on six counts of theft each.
That the men were found not guilty came as no surprise to Artley's attorney, Douglas Roberts, who questioned why the men were ever charged.
"I don't think that the judge had any choice," Roberts said. "The state was woefully short in the evidence that they needed (for a guilty verdict)."
During the bench trials, many witnesses -- including the security guards' former supervisor, Al Rogers -- testified that the time sheets turned in by staff only represent hours they are scheduled to work, and not necessarily their actual hours.
Roberts and Williams' attorney, Elliot Pinsel, argued from the beginning of the case that their clients were simply following a protocol that had been in place for years.
Roberts said he thought Rogers' testimony was the most helpful, because he explained that security guards were often allowed to work different hours than what they were scheduled as long as Rogers verbally approved it.
"(Rogers's testimony) had all the weight in the world," Roberts said. "He is a department head, and he is authorized to set shifts and make changes."
Pinsel said he thinks the trial could have been avoided if school officials spoke with Artley and Williams before going to police.
Pinsel said Roberts they don't know what their clients will do next. Williams and Artley lost their jobs with the school district following their arrest, and both were maligned in the press, Pinsel said.
"Where do the guys go to get their reputation back?" he asked
It is amazing how the City of Waukegan continues to get away with their pratices and they called them policies.It a bunch of hog-wash. The City of Waukegan does not care about the citizen. It may appear that way on the outside, but on the inside their are corrupt and looking for any means necessary to chop of the heads of citizens. Example these ridiculous violation fees that are put upon the citizens. Where do they come up with these fees. The money that they collect who benefits from this. It surely is not the community.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should contact our legislators about the corruption in Waukegan. I am sure they would like to investigate this further.
ReplyDeleteHow can the citizens of Waukegan sit back and take what these crooked politicans & leaders do in this town. Waukegan is the most corrupt city in Lake County. If I could afford to move I would. I have lived here for years and nothing has changed in 30 years. Politicans and Leaders claim they are going to do some much when they get elected that is a bunch of crap. Not only does stay the same it gets worse. As usual the rich getter richer and poor get slaughterd just like pigs
ReplyDeleteJudge allows teen's murder confession
ReplyDeleteComments
April 27, 2010
By BETH KRAMER ekramer@stmedianetwork.com
Despite expressing misgivings about the credibility of a police officer who took a Waukegan teen's videotaped murder confession, a Lake County judge ruled to allow the confession as evidence in the upcoming trial.
Willie Walls, 20, admitted on tape to two Waukegan police officers that he shot Herman Allison of Zion in a failed robbery attempt on March 6, 2007. Assistant State's Attorney Reginald Mathews played the videotape for the court Monday.
» Click to enlarge image
Walls
Public defenders Kathleen McGee and Jennifer Snyder sought to suppress the confession.
Waukegan police detectives Dominick Cappelluti and Charles Schletz questioned Walls on video camera about the night of the murder. Cappelluti asked most of the questions, and Schletz served in the role of juvenile advocate during the interview, according to testimony previously given during the hearing.
Walls was 16 at the time of the slaying and had just turned 17 when the detectives interviewed him.
Circuit Judge Fred Foreman told the court he was concerned about the dual role Schletz played during the interview (interviewer and advocate) but still ruled to allow the videotaped confession as evidence during the trial.
Foreman also said he found the defendant's testimony not credible. Walls had previously testified that the officers had promised him a lighter sentence if he cooperated. Police told him that he would be out of prison by his 21st birthday, he stated during the March 11 hearing.
After securing this promise off-camera, Walls went ahead and confessed to the botched robbery, according to testimony given during the hearing.
Capepelluti testified that no such promise was made.
Walls is due back in court for status May 24. The trial is scheduled for June 21.
Capepelluti is a crooky cop who's always drawing up fake confessions as evidence!!!!!
ReplyDelete