Plea deal offered to former Lake Zurich chief
A plea deal has been offered to a former Lake Zurich fire chief accused of domestic battery of his estranged wife, attorneys said Tuesday.
Attorney Christina Ivashchenko requested 30 days to review the plea agreement prosecutors offered to David Wheelock, 54, of Lake Zurich. Ivashchenko would not comment on the deal after court.
The two sides are due to return to court July 21 with a final decision.
Wheelock pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of domestic battery resulting in bodily harm and battery after an argument the two had in early May.
He faces up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine should he be found guilty of the misdemeanor allegations.
Wheelock remains free from jail after posting the required 10 percent of his $25,000 bail.
He was arrested May 4 for the argument that started May 3 and resumed the next morning at the house the couple shares on the 21000 block of West Highland Drive, according to Lake County Sheriff's police.
Police said Wheelock pushed his estranged wife into a wall and threatened her. Lake County state's attorney's officials said Wheelock previously stated he might have grabbed his estranged wife's arm as he was trying to get an iPad.
Wheelock retired from the fire department May 8, four days after charges were filed.
Village documents show Wheelock received $105,742 for unused sick and vacation time as a result of his retirement, and had a vacation balance of roughly 259 hours and 2,838 hours in unused sick time.
Wheelock did not comment after the brief court hearing Tuesday.