Des Plaines alderman's attorneys blame conviction on previous counsel
Des Plaines Alderman Dick Sayad's criminal defense attorneys said Thursday they believe he would've been acquitted of criminal trespassing if his old attorney had asked the right questions.
That's the latest defense Laura and Dean Morask have presented in their appeal of Sayad's guilty verdict, which the veteran 4th Ward alderman received from a judge for walking into a resident's house unannounced in February.
In an amended motion filed this week, the attorneys say the verdict should be overturned due to "ineffective assistance of counsel," specifically, that Sayad's attorney James Tatooles should have cross examined resident Dave Uhrich on a statement he made to police that he "invited" Sayad in. They also say witnesses should have been called during the June 16 bench trial.
Laura Morask said after a brief court status hearing Thursday that she expects Des Plaines Community Foundation Executive Director Rosemary Argus to testify at an upcoming hearing that she was arranging for volunteers to shovel the sidewalk. Her testimony would corroborate Sayad's "innocent state of mind" when he went to Uhrich's house, Morask said.
If Judge Michael Hood doesn't reverse the guilty verdict, Sayad's attorneys plan to pursue a reduction of his sentence of 18 months of supervision.
He is due in court again Oct. 23.