Trustee charged with domestic battery

Carpentersville Trustee Paul Humpfer was charged with four counts of domestic battery early Friday morning, after surrendering to police.

Humpfer, 43, posted $300 bond and was given an Aug. 21 court date in St. Charles.

Grand jury testimony provided last month by Humpfer's wife, Jacqueline, and subsequent investigations by Carpentersville police and the Kane County state's attorney's office led to the charges, said Carpentersville Deputy Police Chief Michael Gillette.

The four counts of domestic battery include allegations Humpfer caused bodily harm, and stem from two May 17 incidents, Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said Friday.

"There was no indictment handed down. We prepared a summons and he showed up in court," Barsanti said. "Evidence was found that warranted filing misdemeanor charges."

Barsanti would not comment on the grand jury testimony.

In papers seeking an emergency order of protection, which were filed June 25 as part of a divorce proceeding, Jacqueline Humpfer alleged her husband in one incident shoved her and hit her in the legs with a baseball bat.

In her court filings, Jacqueline Humpfer also accused her husband of repeated physical and verbal abuse.

The papers also state Jacqueline Humpfer feared for her safety and the safety of the couple's two children. Jacqueline Humpfer seeks sole custody of the children.

Paul Humpfer, who has previously denied the allegations, declined to comment further Friday on the advice of his attorney.

Michael Chapski, a family law attorney in Elgin, also refused to discuss the case Friday.

Jacqueline Humpfer said her husband's arrest was unexpected.

"I didn't ask for this, I just want to get divorced," Jacqueline Humpfer said. "I was subpoenaed and had to go and testify. I didn't know what to expect."

The June 25 protection order was the second Jacqueline Humpfer sought and received against her husband in two years.

A judge previously granted Jacqueline Humpfer an emergency order of protection in November 2005.

Details of that court order became a public issue during the spring election, when Village President Bill Sarto asked the state's attorney's office to investigate the 18-month-old incident.

Paul Humpfer, a supporter of an ordinance cracking down on illegal immigrants that Sarto opposes, was running for election at the time.

Barsanti in April issued a news release stating an investigation had determined no charges were warranted in that case and no charges were ever filed.

At the same time, Jacqueline Humpfer told the Daily Herald in a series of interviews that the 2005 incident was overblown and that she stood by her husband.

If convicted on all four counts, Paul Humpfer could face up to 364 days in county jail, said Chris Nelson, the state's attorney's public information officer.