West misconduct case officially closed

The book was officially closed on the criminal misconduct case against former Kane County Coroner Chuck West on Thursday as prosecutors dismissed the charges.

West died July 4 after complications from a liver transplant; he had faced anywhere from probation to five years in prison on felony misconduct charges that he allowed a television to be stolen from the home of a deceased Carpentersville man in 2007.

“Due to Chuck West having passed away, we did dismiss the case,” said Charles Colburn, a prosecutor with the State’s Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit brought by Loren Carrera, the former second in command at the office who now is acting coroner, is continuing. Carrera seeks more than $50,000 damages, arguing that West retaliated against her after she blew the whistle on his alleged misconduct.

Carrera’s attorneys are in the process of adding Kane County and West’s estate as defendants.

Both sides are due in court Monday. Attorney Patrick Kinnally, whose firm was appointed by the county to defend West in the lawsuit, has submitted a motion seeking payment of $18,613 for its services so far, according to court records.