State suspends law license of AJ Freund's dad
State officials announced Monday they've suspended the law license of Andrew Freund while he's awaiting trial on charges he murdered his 5-year-old son, AJ.
The license of 60-year-old attorney from Crystal Lake will remain on suspension until further ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court, according to an order disclosed Monday by the state's Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
Freund, who's been licensed since 1984, previously had his license suspended in 2015 stemming from his work in the divorce case of AJ's mom, JoAnn Cunningham, who's also charged in the boy's slaying. According to commission records, Cunningham and Freund defied a court order barring her from taking items from her marital home. Both were subsequently convicted of indirect criminal contempt, according to the disciplinary commission.
Freund also appeared in court on behalf of a client after he'd allowed his licenses to lapse by failing complete mandatory continuing legal education requirements, the disciplinary commission said.
Freund and Cunningham, 36, face charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, failure to report a missing child or child death and other offenses in connection with AJ's death.
The boy's body was discovered April 24 in a shallow grave near Woodstock, six days after his parents reported him missing from their Crystal Lake home. Authorities say AJ was forced to endure a cold shower and then beaten to death April 15.
Freund and Cunningham, both of whom have pleaded not guilty, remain in custody at the McHenry County jail on $5 million bail each.