McHenry County IL Message Board

Please feel free to visit the McHenry County Message Board. This message board is for people to talk freely about their community, concerns, and any other topics of interest. The forum is divided into various areas, according to the town that you live in McHenry County. There are also various other areas and topics, for everyone to post in.

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McHenry County IL Message Board

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McHenry Judge Condon Is Corrupted By Nichole Owens And Lou Bianchi, William Kroncke Had 911 Tape Was Altered

Illinois State Police William Kroncke corrupted the trail will tampered 911 tape.

The two former officers who were acting in self-defense during the February 2005 altercation outside KC's Cabin are found guilty of all charges after saving the life of Jessica Thelen. Defense lawyers agreed that the former officers jumped Hallett, but only to save the life of a woman they say he had taken hostage at knifepoint.
Ryan Hallett told the jury that he went to the bar already intoxicated and with the intent to go to the bar and start trouble with one of these offiers becauce of a friend. Ryan Hallett got what he deserved after taking a woman hostage. He could of killed her.
Not only that, these men did not get a fair trail due to Judge J Condon. There was a 911 tape that William Kroncke from the Il State Police had an altered copy made which was given as evidence. Judge Condon knew, and did nothing. Judge Condon should be arrested along with with William Kroncke and Nicole Owens. These people have broken the law and should loose their jobs. Judge Condon has proven that no one in McHenry County can have a fair trail, especially under him. How many other innocent people in McHenry County were found guilty by Judge Condon in which he had knowledge of "tampered evidence" and did nothing?
The Attorney General needs to look into this corruption.


Tags: Louis Bianchi, Nichole Owens, McHenry Prosecutor, McHenry County State's Attorney, Judge Condon, Police, Bad Cops, Police Abuse, Injustice, State Police, Illinois State Police, Illinois Bad Cops, McHenry County Judges, William Kroncke, McHenry County Judge, Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, Illinois Attorney General, Illinois, Police Brutality, William Kroncke Il State Police, Nichole Owens, Nichole P Owens, McHenry County Nichole Owens, Joseph Condon, Ryan Hallett

Marengo Police Chief Les Kottke, Going Senile Or Just Plain Idiot? Allows Courtney Miller Back On The Job After A Drunk Driving Arrest

Is Marengo Police Chief Les Kottke mind being clouded by old age? Marengo has one of the worst police departments in Northern Illinois. City Hall is no better. Marengo will sure be know as the breeding hole for bad cops and politicians.

Marengo cop back to work
By EMILY PREVITI

MARENGO -- Despite pending drunken driving charges, a police officer is back to work in Marengo, which some local police chiefs say they would not allow.
Courtney Miller appeared Tuesday in Winnebago County court on charges related to a February arrest in connection with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Miller, of Loves Park, was on paid leave from the Marengo Police Department after her arrest Feb. 6 in Rockford by Illinois State Police. She’s been back for a few weeks, Marengo Police Deputy Chief Joseph Hallman said.
Chief Les Kottke was unavailable for comment, and Carlos Arevalo, city attorney, declined to detail the decision to allow Miller to return.

“There was an investigation, the union was involved, and that culminated in the arrangement,” Arevalo said.

Winnebago County Judge Richard Lucas ruled in April that the suspension of Miller’s driving license was unfounded.
Arevalo said that finding left city officials to believe that the case won’t merit a conviction.

“It will play itself, and the case is going to go away, as simple as that,” he said. 

Miller, 32, has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with blood-alcohol content of more than 0.08 percent, and speeding 15 mph to 20 mph faster than the posted limit. 
Law enforcement driving under the influence of alcohol has been, in the recent past, an issue for agencies throughout the county.
In Marengo, Arevalo explained, the police department considers each discipline case individually.
Jim Pasco, director of the National Fraternal Order of Police, said the organization hadn’t issued recommendations specific to DUI arrests and deemed all discipline “negotiable.”
While other local departments agreed that cases vary, some, including the McHenry County sheriff’s department and those in Fox River Grove and Algonquin, said they would not put an officer on duty before the criminal case had concluded.

In Crystal Lake and West Dundee, disciplinary action would probably, but not always, be taken after a case’s conclusion.
Algonquin Police Chief Russell Laine said for officers whose Breathalyzer tests register above a certain level, the department would seek unpaid leave and dismissal.
Harvard Chief of Police Dan Kazy-Gary said in his department, a DUI charge wouldn’t always prompt paid leave until the conclusion of a court case.

What’s next
Miller is expected to appear again in court July 20, when her attorney plans to argue that her arrest lacked probable cause. 
The maximum penalties for a DUI conviction include losing one’s driver’s license for at least a year and up to $2,500, as well as land her behind bars for up to a year.
Arevalo wouldn’t say whether that would change her job status in Marengo.
Some area departments adhere more rigidly than others to court verdicts in deciding whether to keep an officer on staff.

In Algonquin, a DUI conviction would lead to termination, but acquittals could, too, Laine said.
McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said he adhered to a similar principle.

“Chances are, they’re going to lose their job, which I guess is more than the average citizen pays,” he said. “Maybe we’re held to a higher standard. If you don’t like that, then don’t get in the business.”

Pasco pointed out that standard also can be unfair.

“Too often, there’s a presumption that police officers check their civil rights at the station door, and that’s just not true,” Pasco said.

Troy Wise had been a McHenry County assistant state’s attorney for about six months when he was fired Feb. 15, a day after his car collided with a utility pole and he was charged with DUI.
And Donald Anderson was working as a sheriff’s deputy on probationary terms when he crashed a squad car into a tree in January. Crystal Lake police responded to the scene and delayed filing DUI charges against Anderson until several days afterward after the Northwest Herald had filed a Freedom of Information request for related reports.

Appeared Here

Tags: Courtney Miller, Louis Bianchi, Nichole Owens, McHenry Prosecutor, McHenry County State's Attorney, Judge Condon, Marengo IL, Marengo, City of Marengo, Marengo Police, Police, Bad Cops, Police Abuse, Injustice, State Police, Illinois State Police, Illinois Bad Cops, McHenry County Judges, William Kroncke, Scott Crawford, Kelly Given, Don Lockhart, Donald Lockhart, Mayor of Marengo, McHenry County Judge, Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, Illinois Attorney General, Illinois, Police Brutality

State's Attorney Louis Bianchi Admit's Wrong By Offering Sweet Deal To Guaghan Brothers, Gaughan Brothers Record Will Be Expunged Of All Charges, Civil Lawsuit Against Marengo Illinois Will Be Likely

After nearly three years McHenry County Prosecutors throw in the towel. Nichole Owens, the prosecutor who was going after the Gaughan brothers for aggravated battery of a police officer, criminal damage to government property, criminal trespass and filing a false police report, contacted the Gaughans' attorney last week and told them she did not wish to proceed with the case, and will drop all charges if the Gaughan brothers plead to a minor charge. The deal was if both brothers pleaded guilty to attempted disorderly conduct, which is a misdemeanor, that they fabricated the abuse allegations. Basically, there records will be expunged and the Gaughans were sentenced to one year of conditional discharge.

Of course Louis Bianchi said they had a very strong case. Louis Bianchi said. “It was so strong, it persuaded them to plead guilty.” It persuaded them to plead guilty? It must have been one of those moments. In a way that statements implies that the prosecutors are guilty of malicious prosecution. Think about it, this was a deal that no one would turn down. I did not see this one coming. I believe this was a way for the prosecutor to avoid being sued by the Gaughans, since they pled guilty. This also now makes the prosecutors look good in the media and for the up coming 2008 election for Louis Bianchi since the case was brought to a conclusion. I guess it was better to make the City of Marengo look bad then to look bad at election time.

This deal has paved the way for a strong civil lawsuit against the City of Marengo. Even though the brother plead guilty to this odd charge, it will make it hard for the City of Marengo to make their own defense since the brothers record will be wiped clean.

Congrats to the Gaughans’!!!



Tags: Marengo Illinois, Louis Bianchi, Nichole Owens, Marengo Police, City of Marengo, Police Abuse, State Police, McHenry County Illinois, McHenry County, McHnery County Prosecutor, States Attorney, McHenry County States Attorney, Scott Crawford, Kelly Given, Don Lockhart, Mayor Don Lockhart, Marengo Mayor

Marengo Teen Will Not Have A Fair Trial, Shooter Jerry Sweat Has Charges Dropped, Nichole Owens Lou Bianchi Continue To Maliciously Prosecute Brothers, Judge Condon

Marengo resident Jerry Sweat, the person who shot Marengo teenager Patrick Gaughan, has had the charges dropped against him. However, Jerry Sweat could still be charged at a later date which could be filed at a later date. Either way, Jerry is not in the clear. Dropping these charges is not a surprise. They would rather try to convict and jail a teen who has mistakenly tried to tee-pee a wrong residence then put a potential murderer behind bars. So let’s see…. 30 years in prison for Jerry Sweat or 3-5 years for Patrick Gaughan for potential breaking and entering and obstruction. Well, since it’s a Gaughan let’s screw him. The McHenry County State’s Attorneys Office has a vendetta with the Gaughan family since 2004 and it is no secret.

Here is something that is very interesting.

A Harvard man shot and killed his neighbor’s dog claiming self defense. The McHenry County State’s Attorney spent countless taxpayers’ money on forensic investigation. They studied the travel of the bullets, angles, distance, and etc. They convicted him with felony animal cruelty, which carried a potential maximum three-year prison sentence. He was ordered to two years of probation, pay a $2,000 fine and perform 50 hours of community service. Look at the extent the prosecutor went through to convict this person for shooting a dog.  Why didn’t the prosecutor go though this much when it came to a person shooting another person? Why? The only thing that had been done was some questions asked by the Sheriffs Department when Patrick was lying in a hospital bed. They never even collected the bullets that came out of Patrick. WHAT!!! The McHenry County State’s Attorneys Office never bothered to contact the family. Again, why?

It’s because it is the Gaughans. The City of Marengo with their McHenry County connections have collaborated with each other and set out to tear this family apart over police abuse charges filed against Scott Crawford. I just cannot believe how people can be blinded by this corruption. Scott Crawford should have been fired and charges brought up against him. But thanks to the help of the McHenry County State’s Attorneys Office, found a way for him to still be a creditable witness against the Gaughans by resigning his position. I know that’s why Nichole and Lou were at the hearing. To make sure their witness was secured. The McHenry County State’s Attorneys probably did not figure that Kelly Given would do something so stupid. Kelly Given should have had charges brought up again her for stealing sealed juvenile records. But again, with the help from the prosecutors and the City of Marengo, no charges were filed. They had to secure that witness as well so she resigned. They knew that if anyone of them had charges against them they would not be a creditable witness. That is why they have temporally dropped the charges against Jerry Sweat.

You cannot imagine how much tax payer dollars went to maliciously prosecute this family. The Crawford issue will be going for a third year. I believe it all comes down to the prosecutor does not have squat against these boys. Their strategy is to financially destroy this family until they can claim victory.
This family will not EVER get a fair trial.

I cannot wait to see what the papers will print tomorrow.
Where is the Justice in this county?

Tags: Jerry Sweat, Nichole Owens, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Marengo Il, City of Marengo, Marengo Teen, Mchenry Prosecutor

Cops And DUI’s

Cops And DUI’s:

Looks like the Marengo Police Department received some more bad publicity this week. Marengo Officer Courtney Miller was charged with a DUI, making her the third McHenry County law enforcement officer charged this month. She was driving in Rockford at 3am when stopped and apprehended. Marengo Chief, Les Kotke, of course, put her on PAID administrative leave instead of firing her. Of course, she was simply apprehended, not convicted yet. But it would be interesting to see what will happen if she is convicted. Will Marengo get rid of her?? Or will she be forced to resign and given a good reference like the other two Marengo cops, Crawford and Given?? Or will she simply take some sort of deal with the prosecutor and simply beat the DUI one way or another. In that case, we have a police officer who will now drive around while potentially being drunk on and off the job, have access to a gun on and off the job while being potentially drunk in the future. We have a real danger to society. The scary thing is it is happening again and again in McHenry County. Police officers and drinking just does not mix, on or off the job, because of their access to weapons. One also might wonder just what kinds of police officers are being hired in McHenry County. Those who are likely to drink?? Those who are unstable emotionally?? What kinds of incidents can this potentially lead to in the future?

Read the story: Another officer faces DUI

JUDGE CONDON NEEDS MORE EDUCATION

(click on the pic)

I’d like to ask you, Judge Condon, why you think Kroncke and Schroeder are good officers? Just because you and only you made the decision that we all knew you were going to make, to allow the coerced, fake confession as evidence? Of course, YOU are on the prosecution’s side, judge, you all know each other, go to the same parties, so it is not surprising that you would not want to ruin their case. Its political, that’s why. It would be bad politics to go against the prosecution.

Where is your sense of shame? Did you not see the whole tape? You did not see Kevin Gaughan jump back at one point or the way he was sitting, clearly frightened? You did not see Kroncke jump, run around the room, slam papers, point his finger, throw Kevin into a cell, punch a guy out? You saw Kroncke brush Kevin’s shoulder?? Please! Watch the tape again, judge. Or did you even bother to watch it, since you obviously decided to make this decision ahead of time?

Look at all the cases that you and Bianchi and Owens presided over that were turned over on appeal. Look at the shameful ways you behave, not caring about justice or right and wrong. You would put any person in jail, no matter if he’s innocent and guilty, just to win a case! You should all be disbarred. Don’t worry, by the time this is all over with, I am sure the FBI will get involved in your wrongdoings. This will not go on.

And shame on you reporters of the Northwest Herald. What a crappy article! Just the other day was an article and a website where one can view the tape for oneself. Are you saying you saw this tape and still believe the lies that Condon and Bianchi stated to you people? What is this? You don’t do any of your own investigating, but just print whatever the people you interview tell you, true or false? Just the day before there was an article where the events on the very same tape were discussed in a contradictory manner.

All lies. From the prosecutors to the judge to our community paper. You people have no shame!

WOODSTOCK ILLINOIS
OCTOBER 15, 2006

Illinois State Police William Kroncke’s Lies Exposed

Illinois State Police William Kroncke’s Lies Exposed

William Kroncke, who is a Illinois State Police investigator, has been in the process of lying so often, that it is safe to say he must either be a habitual liar, or a ruthless individual concerned less with the law then with doing favors for friends and abusing various people.

Take a look at some of what William Kroncke has done:
- He was caught on tape punching a prisoner in handcuffs and slapping Kevin Gaughan, who came in to file a complaint.
- He has lied and covered up facts of an investigation he supposedly conducted into the shooting of a suspect by a Marengo police officer.
- He has lied on the stand constantly and repeatedly. Under oath.
- He has even stolen evidence that was supposed to be handed over to the defense in a case!

Considering all these facts, it shouldn’t surprise us that William Kroncke would lie about his military service record as well. Since getting transferred to Chicago, Kroncke has told people, including possible suspects, that he was an Army Ranger, who had fought in various wars and held many medals. However, Kroncke appears to be just like Jack Genot. When his military record is examined, it shows that Kroncke did not serve in the Army at all or been anywhere near a battlefield. Instead, he was a financial officer without any clearances in the National Guard! In other words, while Kroncke was able to commend respect from his superiors in the Chicago area because of his military and war service, the fact is that he never even served! I imagine that if his superiors, many of whom are themselves real military heroes and real Rangers, knew that Kroncke lied about being a Ranger and was just a piddly financial officer, a clerk, then he would get a lot less respect. Maybe they wouldn’t stand up to protect this liar and poor excuse of a human being when he habitually lies, hits people, and does wrong. Maybe they will look the other way when all these lies finally catch up with him. I would think at the very least, this must be very embarrassing for Kroncke himself, as there is no excuse for this kind of lie.
Jack Genot has made a public apology and a fellow alderman asked him in Council to resign. Though he did not do so. Maybe we should all demand that the Illinois State Police finally get rid of William Kroncke. It is not safe or wise to give a habitual liar and violent individual, who also covers up for his lies, a badge and especially, a gun. I would write the Illinois State Police Headquarters in Chicago and demand Kroncke’s resignation. We will all be safer in the future. Especially those of us in Marengo.

Illinois State Police
Woodstock Illinois
Marengo Illinois

October 4, 2006

Barbarians of the Justice System

Louise Bianchi and Nichole Owens - McHenry County Illinois

We Americans believe that we have the most just system of law in the world. People are “assumed innocent” until proven guilty and have a right to a trial by a jury of their peers. Prosecutors are supposed to prosecute those against whom there is evidence and who they themselves believe to be guilty. This is the ideal upon what our justice system in this country is based. In fact, more than an ideal, we, the citizens of this country, believe that if we are falsely accused of a crime, then this will be caught and remedied. Supposedly, innocent people do not wind up in jail in the United States.

This has, unfortunately, not been the case in McHenry County. There’s justice for the rest of the country and there’s “McHenry County justice”. Meaning what?
- People are falsely arrested and then indicted by a grand jury because of false evidence given against them.
- The prosecutor, Nichole Owens, is ambitious and willing to see innocent people go to jail for crimes they did not commit in an effort to forward her own agenda.
- There are few judges and they make decisions that are pro- prosecution, and are later turned over by an appeals court.
- State investigators lie on the stand in order to protect themselves and their friends.
- People are beat up and arrested if they complain about the system.

Why is this happening? Because of two people who are here to put criminals behind bars and protect the rest of us in McHenry county are more concerned about getting ahead then about truth and justice. Nichole Owens has screwed up case after case in Boone County. The people who she prosecuted and who were found guilty, and the decisions made in her cases, were later overturned in Appellate court. She was booted out of there and is now in our McHenry County. She likewise has started prosecuting the innocent while those who belong in jail go free. In the Gaughan case, there was evidence from the beginning that Brian and Kevin Gaughan were not guilty of any of the charges brought against them by her office. It was and still is obvious to anyone looking at that case that Officer Crawford of Marengo beat up one of the Gaughans, who was injured. Crawford was the one against whom charges should have been brought against. Instead, Owens wants to prosecute people she knows are not guilty, as dropping the charges now would mean admitting some very obvious mistakes. There are 23 witnesses for the Gaughans and a videotape showing how Kevin Gaughan was hit and interrogated in order to get him to drop his complaint. The witnesses against the Gaughans? Crawford and Given, both forced to resign from Marengo PD. In fact, not only Crawford, but Given should have been prosecuted as well. She has stolen confidential information and given it to the NW Herald, yet has been allowed to get away with her crimes. Owens also insists on prosecuting the police officers involved in an altercation with Ron Hallet. The only reason charges are being brought up against these officers in the first place, was so State Investigator Kroncke could show that he wasn’t biased toward the police in the Gaughan case. So, four innocent people are prosecuted for crimes they did not commit, the videotapes which are essential, same as in the Gaughan case, have “mysteriously disappeared”. I am certain that if there are guilty charges in these cases, they, like the Boone County cases, will be overturned later by the Appellate Court.

The sad thing is that nothing is being done about Owens and Bianchi. They are allowed to go on their rampage, putting innocent people in jail and costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend themselves. State’s Attorney Lisa Madigan, nor anyone else, wants to get involved or cares about what is going on in this county. The only hope that I can see coming is to have people like you and me get together to try to fight some of the injustices. Because next time it might be you whose being falsely accused and tried. Next time you who read this might have a state officer like William Kroncke lie about you on the stand. Until people decide to take action, nothing will be accomplished. We are lucky that people like the Gaughans have decided to fight these injustices. In the end, I hope to see Owens and Bianchi make enough mistakes, so that they are forced to pay for their actions.

Woodstock Illinois Sept 24, 2006

Bianchi, Owens - Telling the truth?

The Northwest Herald printed that the arrest rate is up, but that crime is down. Hmmm… I wonder if this is because of all the people who have been falsely arrested and tried by the State’s Attorney’s Office.Supposedly, Marengo was one of the communities that has seen a decrease of crime since last year….Marengo, huh? I wonder if this is because now that Crawford and his girlfriend Given were forced to resign, there are a lot less false arrests and fake crimes being committed. What about the murder of the 83 year old women? Was that solved? We’ll never find out, as the possible suspect was shot. Maybe the serious crimes, like drug dealing and murder did not go down, just that there were a lot less false arrests this year?

Lou Bianchi says that there is a lot of work to do and arrests to make. Why? I wonder..

The increase in workloads is because Nichole Owens is trying very hard to make a name for herself here in this county, and people are getting falsely arrested. The innocent are sent to prison, even if they are police officers, while bad police officers go unpunished and are able to get a job in other counties. True crime is being ignored..

I wonder how many of these arrests led to convictions and how many of the convictions are going to be overturned in the appeal process?

Bianchi also states that there will be a lot more work for the State’s attorney’s office.

I am sure there would be a lot less work without the false arrests. Look at Nichole Owens record in Boone county. People were falsely arrested and charged, and if convictions were obtained, they were overturned in appellate court. The same process is now occurring here in McHenry County. It is only a matter of time before Nichole Owens will find herself out of a job because of prosecutorial misconduct.

And what are supposedly our biggest problems in McHenry County? Sexual abuse and alcohol misuse!! What? Did I hear that right?

Is that what we need to worry about while there are meth use and other problems, with many people in the county living in poverty?

McHenry County judges have huge caseloads, according to Bianchi.

Maybe we need some new judges, as the ones who are handling the current cases seem to agree with the prosecutors, issue bad judgments, and then have those judgments turned over in an appeal.

What is the situation here in McHenry County?

Because of Nichole Owens, case after case is being prosecuted, whether the suspect is innocent or guilty. Owens doesn’t care about little things like innocence or guilt. She wants to make a name for herself. She will keep prosecuting people, engaging in misconduct, and sending innocent people to jail by using investigators who lie on the stand and other forms of ruthless actions, unless something is done.

Ryan Hallett, K.C.'s Cabin

K.C.’s Cabin Spring Grove IL

Ryan Hallett admitted that he drank as many as 14 drinks at other places before he arrived at K.C.’s Cabin which lead to a beating from an off duty officer after pulling out a pocket knife and holding a woman hostage.

Ryan Hallett was no saint.

Ryan Hallett admitted that he intentionally walked by the officers and exchanged words which provoked the incident.

Ryan Hallett admitted he took out his pocket knife and waved it at an off duty officer.

Ryan Hallett kicked one police officer in the nuts.

Ryan Hallett threatens life Jessica Thelen and others.

Ryan Hallett was a drunk and out of control.


All liars: William Kroncke, Virgil Schroeder, Joe Perez, Nichole Owens, “Big Daddy” Lou Bianchi

Illinois State Police William Kroncke, Virgil Schroeder, Joe Perez, and Nichole Owens more than likely had these witnesses Heather Miller, Melissa Cross, and Greg Fisher lie on the stand. This is not the first time that these four have used their magical charms.

I thought that Nichole Owens was a head hunting witch for drilling Jessica Thelen on the stand like that. Nichole Owens yelled and harassed her the whole time. Jessica Thelan did what she had to in order to get away from the drunken madman, Ryan Hallett.

Questions

William Kroncke, who coached the accused before their Grand Jury proceedings? Seriously, the accused were told what questions they were going to be asked and how they should answer them. What! Nichole Owens, is that legal? I am questioning your creditability, like I do not think you ever had any.

Why did the McHenry County Presiding Judge Sharon Prather refused to allow testimony from a defense expert? Was it because he was expected to say that the former police officers were justified in their use of force to defend themselves from a knife-wielding Hallett? I though the jury should have heard the statements. Is the system here in McHenryCounty so corrupt that they knew this expert could have had some influence on the jury?

Fear of lawsuits lead to a misleading article in Marengo IL

Wow! Is this a misleading article! Talk about the NW Herald being too cowardly to tell the truth but yet still writing something just to say "they covered it".
1. Watch the tape. What do you see? I see State Police Officer Kroncke punching Hedio and knocking him out for 43 minutes. And believe me, I've watched the tape many, many times. I also see Kevin Gaughan jumping back the moment Kroncke hits Hedio.
Also, I certainly wouldn't say anything to protect Officers DiGiovanni and Mahlke, who were holding Hedio against the wall. I certainly have nothing at all good to say about the MPD or those two, but they didn't punch Hedio out!! Just watch the tape!
It is interesting. In this case, its actually NOT the Marengo Police who are mostly at fault for what happened. I certainly wouldn't be saying this to protect them.
Why did the NW Herald say that they did? Because of fear of lawsuits and pressure from State Police lawyers who are protecting Kroncke. They are cowards. They should have not even come up with an article at all, rather than one that has false information in it!
2. Nowhere it is mentioned that Kevin Gaughan was slapped two times. Why? Because Kroncke slapped him. And the NW Herald cannot mention Kroncke's name or actions, because of fear of lawsuits.
3. Kroncke and Schroeder's names aren't mentioned at all, in fact. Again, fear of lawsuits by the cowardly NW Herald.
4. Yes, very true. Hedio was not provided with medical attention and everyone ignored him and went about their business. However, I should mention that, again, if you watch the tape, you can see that Mahlke kicks Hedio into the cell, not really nudges him with his foot. Again, I've watched the tape more than once, many times. But you can see it for yourselves.
5. Let me ask this one. If the NW Herald is such an honest, independent source of news in McHenry County, why won't they come out with the truth?
And why is it that the Gaughans were not allowed to take out a small ad a year and a half ago looking for other people with cases against the MPD, but William Kaper is allowed two full page ads every single week for his very obvious political agenda against the City of Cary?
I think we need to all question this supposed independent source of news for our County. Because most of the time we are not getting the full story.

Marengo IL
July 9, 2006

William Kroncke Investigating Marengo Police Abuse

William Kroncke is a State Police Investigator whose job it was to investigate incidents of police abuse in Marengo. In the events in question, Kroncke was investigating the incident of Scott Crawford and attempting to find if he was guilty of police brutality against the brothers Kevin and Brian Gaughan. How did Kroncke do this?
Well, he started by asking Kevin Gaughan, the person who was making the complaint against the officer in question to go down to the Marengo Police Department with him. This is the place where the incidents of police abuse took place in the first place. One would have thought that a separate setting would have been more appropriate.
The problem, of course, was that William Kroncke had no intention of finding out what happened that October night or what Scott Crawford did to Kevin Gaughan and his brother Brian. If you watch the tape of the interview, Kroncke is seen yelling and screaming the whole time. He waves a chair around, bangs the table, and even does the unthinkable – hits Kevin Gaughan in the face and knocks out a prisoner who is brought into the police department.
http://marengogazette.blogspot.com/
Why does he do this?
According to Kevin Gaughan, Kroncke was attempting to get him to sign a false confession having to do with the burglaries that took place in a nearby subdivision, Doral Ridge. That is fairly obvious from the tape, as Kroncke waves the paper with the confession over and over again in front of Kevin Gaughan’s face, screaming, yelling, and attempting to describe to him what will happen if this confession is not signed. William Kroncke is quite a dramatic personality, so these actions are very easy to see and hard to mistake for something else. He also wants Kevin Gaughan to retract the complaint he had made against Officer Scott Crawford, who beat up his brother at the Settlers Day Carnival that year. When Kevin refuses to do so, he hits him in the face. Kevin Gaughan is placed into a jail cell two times in order to scare him, as well.
Does this take place all the time in the Marengo Police Department?
Apparently so. A man named Orest Hideo spent many days in the hospital after being taken down to the police station last November. He is the man that Kroncke punches out on the tape in question. Why was he arrested again in November, months later after the events in question? We don’t know. Another boy, Steven Beisner, was also placed into a jail cell after being interrogated by the Marengo Police. He was told that he would go to jail and should get ready to find a boyfriend there. Beisner was only 14 years old at the time. He also was a victim of Officer Scott Crawford.
This is a very scary situation. The State’s Attorney’s Office in McHenry County will not look into this matter. We need whoever reads this to contact Attorney General Lisa Madigan to look into this and help the Gaughans, who have serious charges still against them which they are innocent of.

Lisa Madigan
IL Attorney Generals Office
100 W. Randolf St
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-3000
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov

July 4, 2006

Timeline Of Crawford Events

Concerns raised

April 2000: Officer Scott Crawford hired by the Waukegan Police Department.

April 2002: Crawford resigns from the Waukegan department amid allegations that he punched and kicked an 18-year-old man in November 2001 after he was handcuffed during the course of an arrest. A federal lawsuit filed against Crawford and the city of Waukegan is settled for an undisclosed sum.

February 2003: The Marengo Police Department hires Crawford.

June 2003: Crawford is the subject of an internal investigation for excessive use of force, which exonerates him.

February 2004: An internal investigation into Crawford’s handling of a warrant arrest prompts a memo expressing “comments of concern” but does not evolve into a formal complaint.

October 2004: Brian and Kevin Gaughan are arrested on numerous charges at Marengo’s annual Settlers’ Day festival, including aggravated battery to a police officer. They accuse Crawford of using excessive force, a charge he is cleared of by an Illinois State Police investigation. In March 2005, the Gaughans are charged with felony counts of filing a false report.

April 2005: The Marengo department places Crawford on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of three internal investigations related to him lying on his employment application, creating a “hostile” work environment and his role in a high-speed chase.

June 2005: The department suspends him and schedules a hearing to ask for his termination. The hearing has yet to take place.

July 2005: A federal lawsuit will be filed against Crawford and the city of Marengo on behalf of the Gaughan brothers for civil rights violations, excessive use of force, malicious prosecution and negligent hiring. The suit will also name three others as plaintiffs who allege Crawford of abuse and name two other officers as defendants.

Source: Daily Herald interviews, documents

This is July of 2006. What has been accomplished since this time? Crawford has resigned. He was offered $30,000 as a severance package. Given has resigned. Both have received a good reference and can still go on to work at other police departments. Neither has had criminal charges brought against them.
Despite mounting evidence against the police officers involved and the way the State Police investigated this matter, including videotapes that were released on this website: http://marengogazette.blogspot.com/, the charges against the Gaughans have not been dropped. Instead they are still facing the same charges while the court in McHenry County issues continuance after continuance in order to delay the trial.
We need people in Illinois to write Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General, in order to have her look into this matter. Please help us out.


Lisa Madigan
IL Attorney Generals Office
100 W. Randolf St
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-3000www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov


July 10, 2006

We Need More Support For The Gaughans

Originally, I expected that people in our town – Marengo, IL, would jump in to offer support for the Gaughan family once they saw the injustice of the situation and how much the Gaughans need their help now. Five years ago, when we first started running the Marengo Message Board http://lenasbooks.proboards28.com/index.cgi, a case had come up with a local resident, Paul Shirmer. Paul fell asleep while driving a semi truck in the state of Georgia. He crashed his truck into a UPS truck, killing both the driver and his own son. He was charged with manslaughter by the Georgia prosecutors. People in Marengo poured in with their support.
What happened with the Gaughan case? People do not want to get involved. The prosecutors in this case are local and the officials who are against the Gaughans are town officials. It doesn’t sit well with people and I have been unable to gather any sort of support for the Gaughans and their situation.
I first became involved with the Gaughans in a somewhat unusual way. The father, Brian Gaughan Sr., got in contact with us through our message board and told us a very strange story which I was reluctant to believe. He said his sons were falsely arrested by Officer Scott Crawford, who beat up his older son and put his face through a wall. That now they faced various charges against them, and that he, as a former police officer himself, could not believe what kinds of crimes are being perpetrated in Marengo. I felt bad for the person who contacted me, but did not at first believe much of what he told me. The following week I talked to a friend in town who had connections with the Police Chief and town government officials. I asked her who this person was. I only had his first name and very little other information, yet she was able to tell me who it was and to please stay far away from him, as the whole town is against him and whoever has anything to do with him will have a lot of problems of their own. In the following months, I was able to find out that many more people have been attacked by Officer Crawford and had false charges brought against them. The only difference is that not one of them fought back. They all took the easy way out and pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Because the Gaughans chose to fight the false charges that were made against them. Because of this they have faced arrests, intimidation – look at the video on this website for instance, http://marengogazette.blogspot.com/, and false arrest for further charges that the State’s Attorney’s Office managed to dig up. We in Marengo really need your help. There is little help from people of this town, who simply deride our efforts and complain about our ongoing support of the Gaughan family. Please write to Lisa Madigan, Attorney General in Illinois to have her look into this situation:


Lisa Madigan
IL Attorney Generals Office
100 W. Randolf St
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-3000
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov

July 9, 2006

Officer Crawford Seems Like A Nice Guy to Area Papers

“Crawford seems like a nice enough guy. He's married and has been honorably cited in the three years he's worked in Marengo.” This is a quote from the NW Herald that was obtained from information that Scott Crawford gave them. It shows how this officer not only lies on the stand, lies at grand jury hearings, intimidates people, and falsely charges people, but that he lies so much, he will even lie to the local news media.A nice enough guy? Yeah, if you think its nice to grab someone whose in handcuffs, lift them up repeatedly by the handcuffs and drop them on their face, and put their head through the wall afterward. Then charge them with aggravated battery and assault on a police officer. How about holding down a small 14 year old girl down, after having tackled her to the ground and pulling up her shirt to expose her breasts? A parent who was there tried to pull the shirt back down, but was stopped by Crawford. How about pepper spraying and hitting a 14 year old boy because our “nice” Officer Crawford thought the boy was 18 and wouldn’t show him his ID? Or many, many other such incidents, too many to count.
Married? To whom? No, Officer Crawford would like the papers to think he is married. But actually he just has a girlfriend and a child. He isn’t married. And he cheated on her with Officer Given besides. I personally have received information that the Marengo Police were having trouble with Officer Crawford and an another Officer(Given) meeting in coffee shops instead of doing their jobs. So much for a nice married man.
How about honorably cited? With what? No, if he was cited at all, it was for wrongdoing. Officer Crawford was suspended several times while working as a police officer in Marengo. We should all be thankful he finally resigned and work to undo the damage he has done in Marengo. The Gaughan brothers still have false charges they are fighting after their encounter with Crawford months back. The State’s Attorney refuses to drop the charges and the State Police are friends with the Marengo Police. Crawford is one of the witnesses who will be testifying against the Gaughans, even though his testimony, as you can see from the lies above, is unreliable.


May 16, 2006

Officer Crawford Of Marengo Resigns

Officer Crawford resigned from the Marengo Police Department for the following reason: he lied on his job application, took part in an improper high-speed chase, and fostered a hostile work environment in the Marengo Police Department. At the Fire and Police Commission Hearing in Marengo, Officer Crawford decided to resign before the commission would question him about the following charges. What did the charges involve that he was so reluctant to be questioned about?
I don’t know what kind of high speed chase Crawford might have been involved in, but the charge about lying on his job application involves the reasons on why he resigned from the Waukegan Police Department. The reason he resigned is because he was caught on video tape beating up a prisoner who was in his custody, in handcuffs. I imagine he did not want the Marengo Police to know about this interesting fact before he was hired. What did he do to create a hostile work environment? He harassed a female police officer, Officer Bass, and called her house repeatedly with threatening phone calls after she got promoted ahead of him.
What else did Scott Crawford do that the Marengo Police Department and the City of Marengo do not want us to know about?
He brutally attacked numerous young people in Marengo. One 14 year old boy, Steve Beisner, was brutally beat up because Crawford thought he was 18 years old and the boy could not produce an ID. He threw him against the wall, punched him in the stomach numerous times, and pepper sprayed him over 3 times, until he could not breathe. Paramedics had to be called and the boy was taken into intensive care with burns over his face and neck, as well as other serious injuries. Crawford should be thankful that he is still alive. The total number of people who Crawford beat up, then falsely charged numbers into the two digits, though there may be far, far more who did not come forward yet. Crawford was suspended numerous times. Another little fact that the Marengo Police would not want people to know about.
This is a person who the prosecutors in the Gaughan case want to use as a witness against them. Would you consider his testimony reliable?


May 28, 2006

We Need Your Support

I would like all who read this gazette to please write to Lisa Madigan to look into the police situation in Marengo and at the way the Gaughan case is being handled. I think we've seen that the State's Attorney's Office and the State Police are all on one side and will not treat this situation fairly. We really need your help. I'd like everyone who reads this to please write to Lisa Madigan and ask for help with this situation and to at least look into it. You've seen the videotape? Is it right for the State Police, the State's Attorney, and Crawford/Given/Riley to get away with their actions and for the Gaughans to have false charges brought against them that they then have had to fight with much opposition for years?
Here is the address:


Lisa Madigan
IL Attorney Generals Office
100 W. Randolf St
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-3000

Prosecutors in the Gaughan Case

This is some of the stuff that prosecutors in the Gaughan case had to say:

"We are concluding that we are still going ahead with the trial," Lou Bianchi said, McHenry County State’s Attorney.
"It shows, obviously, what I knew it would," Crawford said Friday, about the State’s Police report which clears him of wrongdoing.
However, Lou Bianchi would not release the document, saying that it would be unethical. Unethical!?
How about this? Is this State Police investigation ethical?
http://marengogazette.blogspot.com/

Is hitting and yelling at an 18 year old to make him drop a complaint against a police officer instead of investigating the officer in question ethical?
Is arresting people who filed a complaint “for filing a false complaint” by knocking down their doors and holding guns to their heads while yelling at them ethical?
How about ignoring the 23 witnesses that the Gaughans have? Is that ethical? Oh, wait, they claim they did not know about the witnesses and after that it was too late to investigate. But that, in fact, isn’t true. Brian Gaughan Sr., the boys’ father, told the police, prosecutors, and whoever would listen about the 23 witnesses right from the beginning and urged them to investigate. This was not done.
Why are they continuing to go ahead with the trial despite abundant evidence that both of the Gaughans are innocent and Crawford is at fault? Well, it’s a little too late to say that they made a mistake after prosecuting the Gaughans for almost two years, isn’t it? It will make Lou Bianchi, Nichole Owens, and the others look bad. It will make them seem responsible should they be named in the Gaughans’ multi-million dollar lawsuit. Instead, they are hoping that the Gaughans will go broke while fighting these charges and this is why they make false statements like the ones above to the local papers.


June 26, 2006

Officer Scott Crawford Of Marengo

The Gaughans spent almost 2 years fighting the false charges against them. It all started when Brian Gaughan, Kevin Gaughan, and their younger brother Patrick were at a Settler’s Day Carnival. Patrick, who was 15 at a time, saw a man who had stolen his skateboard. Brian went up to the man and started arguing with them. They both used quiet voices and were not disturbing anyone. However, Officer Crawford, who was standing off to the side and smoking a cigarette, got more and more upset at the argument. Finally he came up to the two men and told them to leave. After Brian Gaughan and his brothers turned around and started walking away, Brian said “one, two, three” softly, his back turned to Crawford. Crawford then grabbed Brian from behind, threw him on the ground and handcuffed him. He proceeded to torture him, grabbing him by the handcuffs and pulling him up by them, then dropping him back down on his face, in the process causing Brian Gaughan wrist and upper arm damage. After this was done, Brian was on the ground, screaming, with his hands still cuffed behind his back. Hundreds of people saw the incident and twenty three of them came forward as witnesses. Seeing his brother in obvious pain, Kevin ran up to him and bent down next to him, attempting to help him. At this point Officer Kelly Given grabbed Kevin from behind and arrested him. Officer Crawford took Brian Gaughan, lifted him up by the handcuffs yet again and put his face through the police station wall. Later on a bill would be sent to Brian Gaughan Sr., the boys’ father, to pay for the wall that was broken with his son’s face.
The Gaughans have spent years and over $140,000 fighting these charges. No end seems to be in sight, as the judge in the case issues continuance after continuance, in order to cost the Gaughans more money and to prevent this from going to trial. The State Police refused to investigate this incident and found Officer Crawford not guilty of wrongdoing. The reason for this is that the State Police Officers in this case were friends of the Marengo Police Officers. You can watch what this investigation involves on this website:
http://marengogazette.blogspot.com/.

After that, the Gaughans had their door broken down by the police, who had their guns drawn, in order to arrest them for filing a false complaint against a police officer. This is an endless ordeal and we need as much help as possible from you who read this. Please write to Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of Illinois:
Lisa Madigan
IL Attorney Generals Office
100 W. Randolf St
Chicago, IL 60601
312-814-3000


July 9,2006