Dugan attacked at DuPage County jail

For his own protection, Brian J. Dugan remained Thursday in segregation in the DuPage County jail after another inmate attacked the convicted murderer.

Dugan was not seriously injured in this week's scuffle, but his lawyers confirmed the 51-year-old former Aurora man suffered cuts and bruises.

Details were sketchy, but members of his legal team said another inmate who recently moved into Dugan's pod in the jail repeatedly punched him Monday after the two exchanged words.

Sheriff's officials have not released any details about the fight, but his attorneys said Thursday there's no indication Dugan was at fault.

He is housed in an area of the roughly 820-bed Wheaton facility designated for older inmates. Dugan was transferred in Jan. 24, 2007, to await trial for the 1983 abduction, rape and murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico of Naperville.

"He's a well-known inmate," his attorney Steven Greenberg said. "People come into the jail and they try to make a name for themselves. (Dugan) has gone 20 years in prison without causing trouble and he certainly wouldn't be any trouble now."

But it isn't the first time the long imprisoned killer has been attacked while in custody. In fact, another inmate stabbed Dugan nine times July 30, 1987, at Pontiac Correctional Center.

Dugan suffered a collapsed lung, but survived. His attacker later told a judge he stabbed Dugan after hearing him brag about raping and killing a 7-year-old girl. Dugan has denied making such statements.

He is due in court again April 10 for the Nicarico murder. Earlier this month, DuPage Circuit Judge George Bakalis set a preliminary Jan. 20 trial date for the death-penalty case.

Dugan has been in prison serving life terms since 1985 after pleading guilty to two other sex slayings. He killed Melissa Ackerman, 7, in June 1985 in Somonauk, Ill., and Geneva nurse Donna Schnorr in July 1984.

Dugan claimed sole responsibility for Jeanine Nicarico's murder during 1985 protected plea talks for the other two slayings, but prosecutors didn't pursue it because he said he'd only confess if his life was spared -- a deal they still refuse to make.

Meanwhile, three other men were charged and later cleared, but not before two spent a decade on death row. Seven DuPage County officials were acquitted of railroading one of the men. The county settled their lawsuits alleging malicious prosecution for $3.5 million.

Then, more than two years ago, on Nov. 29, 2005, prosecutors indicted Dugan for Nicarico's murder, citing, in part, improved DNA evidence -- semen and hair -- they said implicates him.