Crime & Safety
Bianchi Heads to Trial for Second Time
Lou Bianchi will appear in McHenry County Court on Aug. 1 for trial on official misconduct charges.
McHenry County made his final appearance in Winnebago court July 22.
He appeared with his attorney, Terry Ekl, for his final pretrial status hearing before Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw.
Ekl and special prosecutor Thomas McQueen told the judge they were prepared to go forward with Bianchi’s second trial as scheduled Aug. 1 at the McHenry County Courthouse.
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McQueen said he expected to complete his presentation by the morning of Aug. 2.
Ekl said he isn’t planning any cross-examination of witnesses and in fact expects the case to be directed out — meaning the judge will determine Bianchi is not guilty after the prosecution’s presentation.
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“That’s what happened at the last trial,” he said.
Bianchi was acquitted in March of charges that he ordered employees to work on his political campaign on county time.
Bianchi was indicted again in February, charged with three counts of official misconduct.
Special prosecutors McQueen and Henry Tonigan charge that Bianchi:
- accepted a campaign donation from the Pro-Life Victory PAC on the condition he drop a case against Tom Salvi, a politically connected Crystal Lake physician;
- that he sought a bond reduction for a relative and delayed the case until a First Offender Program was initiated by his office.
- and that he negotiated less prison time on a drug charge for a supposed nephew of the department’s chief investigator, Ron Salgado.
Salgado also had been charged with official misconduct in this regard, but his case was dismissed in June.
Bianchi’s first indictment came in September 2010, after an investigation launched in 2009 by Tonigan, who was appointed by McHenry County Judge Gordon Graham. The investigation stemmed from claims made by Amy Dalby, Bianchi’s former secretary, that he ordered her to work on his political campaign during work hours.
At that time, 19 counts of official misconduct were filed against Bianchi, many of them Class 3 felonies that carried up to five years prison. The indictment alleged that he used county equipment, funds and employees to update his political contribution lists and other campaign materials unlawfully during business hours.
McGraw presided over this case and acquitted Bianchi after a three-day trial.
Bianchi is serving his second term as the county’s top prosecutor.
