Winnebago County judge to hear Bianchi case

A judge from a neighboring county will preside over the trial of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, who was indicted earlier this month on 21 counts of conspiring to use county resources and personnel to further his political chances.

McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather on Friday assigned the case to Judge Joseph McGraw from Winnebago County. The judge will travel from Rockford to Woodstock to hear the case.

The next status hearing is scheduled Oct. 22.

Bianchi, who was indicted Sept. 10 along with his secretary, Joyce Synek, stood at the front of a courtroom packed with about 120 supporters, many who held or wore carnation flowers. Neither Bianchi nor Synek spoke during the brief hearing.

The 21-count indictment charges Bianchi with official misconduct, conspiracy and unlawful communication with a grand jury witness. The charges are the result of a yearlong probe into claims of wrongdoing within Bianchi's administration between 2005 and 2010. Bianchi is accused of unlawfully using county staff, resources and equipment for political purposes, including maintaining campaign donor lists, thank you letters and speeches.

Synek faces charges of conspiracy, perjury and obstructing justice, alleging she also misused county resources for campaign purposes, lied to the grand jury investigating her boss and destroyed evidence.

Bianchi's attorney, Terry Ekl, called the investigation and the subsequent charges a "bunch of crap," arguing the line between political and governmental duties is not clearly defined. Ekl said the evidence does not show that any political fundraising was done out of Bianchi's office as state's attorney.

"He did not violate any campaign laws or any criminal statutes," Ekl said.

Former secretary Amy Dalby sought the probe of Bianchi, claiming that while working as a personal secretary for him between 2005 and 2006, she was required to do political work.

Last year, Dalby was indicted and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor computer tampering for illegally copying and removing files from the state's attorney's office, which she handed over to a political rival to prove she had done political work while working as a county employee.

All of the charges against Bianchi are felonies, the most serious of which carry maximum sentences of two to five years in prison if convicted.