Judge: Cardamone's trips with sons didn't violate bond

While awaiting a new trial on charges he inappropriately touched former gymnastics students, Michael Cardamone has taken his two sons to an Easter event, Chuck E. Cheese and the gymnastics academy where he once worked.

A DuPage County judge said Tuesday those decisions didn't violate his bond agreement, but she questioned his decision-making.

"It was really bad judgment to go to Chuck E. Cheese's, and especially the gymnasium," said Judge Blanche Hill Fawell. "I am astounded he would make those choices, but I accept part of the blame for not making my order clear enough."

The judge said she'd hold another hearing Friday to clarify her bond order and either require Cardamone to be outfitted with a GPS device that tracks his whereabouts or provide a list of places he's not allowed to go. She said she wouldn't revoke his bond or increase it.

The current order states he should have no contact with any children other than his own and relatives. But Cardamone's legal team argued he was supervised by other adults at these outings with his children and he had no contact with other children.

Cardamone's sister, Alysha Millard, currently has custody of his two sons. She said the family was strictly following the judge's ruling and trying to comply with the family social worker's suggestion that the father and sons should have more public outings. Millard said by not allowing her brother to take his sons on public outings would essentially imprison the boys as well.

"Mike and his kids continue to pay a tremendous price for crimes that were never committed," Millard said.

Cardamone's lawyers said they were surprised to learn the judge was concerned, considering they previously sought clarification about where Cardamone could travel. Fawell said she never intended it to be places where children congregate, but indicated it might be OK for Cardamone to sit in the bleachers to watch his boys play baseball.

Prosecutors lobbied for the GPS device that can target children-friendly areas and also provide Cardamone's accusers with a transponder that notifies him of his whereabouts.

Cardamone was convicted of inappropriately touching seven former students in 2005, but acquitted of touching seven others. The conviction was overturned by an appeals court that ruled the trial judge allowed too much evidence.