Trustee's sentencing for domestic battery delayed

Sentencing for the Carpentersville trustee convicted last month of domestic battery was postponed Thursday.

Trustee Paul Humpfer, 44, faces a maximum of 364 days in jail after being accused of hitting his wife with a baseball bat and calling her names during a domestic dispute in May.

His defense attorney, Van Richards, said he had not received a complete transcript of the trial until recently and needed more time to review it.

Humpfer was convicted March 5.

Richards would not comment on the nature of the post-trial motion filed Wednesday.

However, in a previous motion, the defense attorney listed several reasons for acquittal -- or a new trial -- including that the court disregarded the testimony of Humpfer's son, "who … was present at the time of the alleged battery and testified that there was no battery perpetrated by defendant," court papers say.

Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Liz Lovig objected to the motion, saying a full transcript was readily available from the court reporter, whom the defense hired.

Judge James Hallock set a May 15 date for a post-trial hearing.

During Humpfer's bench trial, witnesses for the prosecution told of seeing bruises on Jacqueline Humpfer's legs and hip area days after the May 17, 2007, incident.

Throughout questioning, Humpfer denied taking a bat to his wife's legs and said he didn't recall seeing a baseball bat in the house at the time of the argument.

During his trial, Humpfer said he was upset and angry after learning his wife had sex with Martin Sigwalt, the son of Trustee Judy Sigwalt, the night Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt were sworn in for another term.

Though Jacqueline Humpfer testified that she was afraid her husband might kill her and was calling her a slut and whore, Paul Humpfer said he did not recall using such language.