Carpentersville candidate admits to lying about arrest on questionnaire

Carpentersville trustee candidate Humberto Garcia admits that he lied about never having been arrested.

In an election questionnaire he filled out for the Daily Herald, Garcia responded "no" when asked if he had ever been arrested or convicted of a crime.

In October 2013 police were called to Garcia's home during a "family argument that escalated," as he described it. He was arrested on charges of domestic violence. He pleaded guilty, was fined $820, and completed the terms of the domestic violence deferred prosecution program and the guilty plea was vacated, according to court files.

"I went to counseling," he said. "It was just an incident that got out of control."

Garcia said he didn't reveal what happened because he was trying to protect his family.

"I didn't want it to be public," Garcia said. "It was an absolute embarrassment."

As for the future, Garcia said he doesn't know how this will affect his candidacy.

"I have no idea what is going to happen. We'll see," he said. "It could be the losing point."

"I was charged but not convicted," he said, alluding to Trustee Paul Humpfer's 2008 domestic battery conviction on charges that he struck his wife with a baseball bat. "We have a candidate who was charged, convicted, and re-elected."

Humpfer left his answer blank on the questionnaire when asked whether he had ever been arrested or convicted of a crime.

There are three open seats on the Carpentersville village board. In addition to Humpfer and Garcia, Don Burroway, Christopher Scholl, Jeffrey Sabbe and Sara Miller are also running for trustee, and all answered "no" when asked about an arrest or conviction.