We pay for Lou Bianchi’s prosecution

In June of 2009 Amy Dalby pleaded guilty to unlawfully copying and removing over 5,000 documents off her county computer. The bill for the 18-month investigation and prosecution by special Prosecutor David 0‘Connor was $59,093.

Now we have a bill from special prosecutor Henry Tonigan investigating/indicting Lou Bianchi. His three-month bill was $112,938 and covered June through August 2010, bringing the total thus far to a whopping $221,476. Ironically, The Northwest Herald headlines called it “Bianchi’s bill.” What is even more frightening is that Mr. Tonigan has not yet presented a bill for the last four months of 2010 during which Mr. Bianchi was indicted and multiple court appearances were filed. It would be no surprise if the bill totals reach $500,000 before the March trial even takes place.

Just who is expected to pay this bill? You guessed it, you and I the taxpayers. When Mr. Tonigan got his powers extended by Judge Gordon Graham, he did it in a letter giving no notice to our county lawyer. That’s right, we had no say in the matter. Now the county board is told they have to keep paying Mr. Tonigan’s bill no matter what. They are told they have no right to get an itemized bill — just keep your checkbooks open.

As a homeowner and taxpayer in McHenry County, I have this question — When Mr. Lou Bianchi’s name is cleared of this politically motivated witch hunt, will Mr. Tonigan be giving back our money?

William “Bill” Mohan

Algonquin