Prosecution will appeal reversal of former broadcaster's case
The Lake County state's attorney's office will ask the Illinois Supreme Court to review an appellate court decision to throw out the conviction of a former television personality.
Deputy State's Attorney Jeff Pavletic said they intend to appeal the decision overturning Robert Goldman's conviction for indecent solicitation of a child.
"We respect the appellate court's decision, but we disagree with it," Pavletic said. "We believe there is a solid foundation of law that says the conviction should stand."
Goldman, of Aurora, was sports director for CLTV in April 2002 when he was arrested after showing up in Waukegan for a meeting with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl.
The person was actually an investigator for the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center who had been exchanging sexually explicit computer messages with Goldman for a number of months.
Goldman was convicted in May 2005 and sentenced to probation, a sentence he has already served.
But the appellate court ruled May 30 that the jury that convicted Goldman was not properly instructed concerning Goldman's intent, and ordered a new trial.
Pavletic said he believes the appellate court should have given more weight to the fact that the defense help draft the supposedly erroneous instruction and objected to the judge's suggestion that clarification be offered after deliberations had begun.
He said it could be several months before the Supreme Court decides if it will take the case.
Award winner: Associate Judge Michael Fusz is this year's recipient of the Benedict J. Ori award.
State's Attorney Michael Waller said the award recognizes the efforts of former Lake County prosecutors whose contributions to the community reflect the tradition of service shown by Ori.
Ori was a longtime assistant state's attorney in Lake County who rose to the position of chief deputy before going into private practice.
He was appointed an associate judge in 1985, but died of a heart attack before taking office.
Fusz was a prosecutor in both McHenry and Lake counties and served as the chief of the felony review division before going into private practice in 1986.
He was appointed to the bench in 2004 and currently hears cases in traffic, misdemeanor and mental health courts.
Memorial run: A motorcycle-poker run in memory of former Zion police Officer David Raposo has been scheduled for June 28 at Harbor Lights in Winthrop Harbor.
The run is designed to raise funds for the family of Raposo, who died recently after a battle with cancer.
Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the entry fee of $20 includes the poker run and 10 standard raffle tickets.
Special raffle tickets for a chance to win a Kimber Custom .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol will be sold for $10 each or three for $20.
For more information, go to www.myspace.com/daveraposopokerrun2008.