Lake Co. board candidate says state's attorney enables pedophiles
A Lake County Board candidate on Friday said State's Attorney Michael Waller and his staff enable pedophiles to attack children.
Local prosecutors do not seek long enough prison sentences for such criminals, Democratic board hopeful Denise Rotheimer said during a news conference in Waukegan. That allows convicted sex offenders to go free and molest more children, she argued.
Rotheimer's comments were supported at the media event by attorney Michael Jacobs, Waller's Democratic opponent in the race for the state's attorney job.
"When you're not seeking maximum penalties for child sex offenders, it enables them to get back out on the street," said Jacobs, an assistant state's attorney in Cook County's civil division who also serves on the Gurnee village board.
Reached by telephone afterward, Waller strongly refuted the allegations.
"For 20 years, the Lake County state's attorney's office has been a leader in investigating and prosecuting child sex abuse cases," said Waller, a Waukegan Republican who's seeking his fifth term as the county's top prosecutor. "I'm proud of my record in handling these most difficult types of cases. Jacobs should be ashamed of himself."
Rotheimer, of Barrington, is running against longtime Republican incumbent Stevenson Mountsier of Lake Barrington for the county board's 17th District seat, which is in the southwest corner of the county. Mountsier could not be reached for comment Friday.
Rotheimer, who's seeking public office for the first time, is a community activist who's spoken publicly about crime and victims rights. Her daughter was raped by a relative when she was 11, and she spoke openly - and graphically - about that attack during Friday's news conference.
Rotheimer believes her daughter's attacker should have received more than the roughly seven-year prison sentence that was handed down.
"When you enable people to go out into the community and re-offend, it serves the pedophile's agenda," she said. "Waller's leadership plays into that."
Rotheimer took the argument a step further by saying Lake County's prosecutors are no better than such criminals.
"Neither are taking the position to look out for the interests of our children to make sure they are protected," she said.
Waller is familiar with Rotheimer and didn't fault her for the feelings she expressed Friday.
"I don't blame her for thinking whatever sentence was imposed wouldn't be enough for what happened," he said. "But the way the system works... it was an appropriate sentence."
Waller saved his ire for Jacobs.
"Michael Jacobs is totally unqualified to be Lake County state's attorney," Waller blasted. "He has now associated himself with a woman who makes totally false and outrageous claims about me and my office."