McHenry County state's attorney's ex-secretary indicted

The former secretary to McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi plans to turn herself into authorities Friday following her indictment as part of a 15-month long special prosecutor's probe into her actions, her lawyer said Thursday.

Wesley Pribla confirmed his client, Amy Dalby, of Malta, has been indicted on multiple felony charges, by a grand jury empaneled to examine claims someone unlawfully removed computer-related work files from Bianchi's office.

Pribla said he learned of the indictment Thursday and was making arrangements for Dalby to turn herself in at a McHenry County law enforcement station sometime Friday. He said he is still awaiting details on the exact charges brought against his client, but indicated he would fight any allegation brought against her.

"I will not allow my client to be a pawn in a political game," he said.

The initial bail on the indictment was $75,000, but authorities have agreed to allow Dalby free on a recognizance bond after she turns herself in, Pribla said.

David O'Connor, the former Cook County prosecutor running the probe, and Bianchi could not be reached for comment.

Dalby, a student at Northern Illinois University, served as Bianchi's personal secretary between January 2005 until the summer of 2006, when she left the office to attend college full-time.

Her actions while in the office, and since leaving, have been at the center of the politically-charged special prosecutor's investigation, as well as another one being sought by former state's attorney candidate Daniel Regna.

Bianchi, a second-term Republican from Crystal Lake, defeated Regna last year in a hard-fought GOP primary.

Regna last week filed court documents claiming Dalby came forward in the fall of 2007 with allegations she was required to perform campaign-related duties while on county time at the state's attorney's office. Among those duties, he claimed, were typing letters to political supporters and setting up for campaign fundraisers.

Bianchi denied allegations he campaigned out of the state's attorney's office, but declined specific comment on Dalby because of O'Connor's grand jury probe.

Regna declined to comment Thursday.

The probe might still be looking into former McHenry County Assistant State's Attorney Kristen Foley, who appeared before the grand jury last week. Foley, who in 2007 filed an ethics complaint against Bianchi, is a target of the investigation, her lawyer said.