Attorneys vow vigorous fight to clear man of child abuse charges

Larry Andolino and Gus Santana are gearing up for a fight.

The defense attorneys for 26-year-old Christopher Cooper, of Rosemont, charged with predatory criminal sexual abuse, and his mother Patricia Cooper, charged with permitting the sexual abuse of a child, say they will do whatever it takes to see their clients exonerated.

"The state has a very heavy burden," said Andolino, following Christopher Cooper's appearance Friday in a Rolling Meadows courtroom. Neither he nor Santana feel prosecutors will be able to sustain their burden of proof against either defendant.

In August, Rosemont police charged Christopher Cooper with four felony counts in the sexual assault of two minor girls who had been in the care of Cooper's mother, Patricia. The elder Cooper was a licensed foster parent from 1981 to 2003 and since 1990 has served as the president of the Illinois Council on Adoptable Children, an adoption support group. Her son also was affiliated with the group.

Prosecutors say the alleged victims informed Patricia Cooper of the abuse but that she did nothing to help them. An Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman confirmed that the agency had twice investigated abuse complaints against Patricia Cooper - in November 2006 and January 2008 - but both times found no evidence to support the allegations.

Andolino and Santana insist their clients are innocent.

"We feel the police work in this case is overzealous," said Andolino, who questions the veracity of the statement Christopher Cooper supposedly gave to the police. According to Andolino, both he and his client asserted Cooper's 5th Amendment right to remain silent, yet the police contend he talked to them.

"He exercised 5th Amendment rights and I exercised his 5th Amendment rights, next thing you know, they've got a statement," said Andolino.

"We intend on challenging the statement on constitutional grounds and mounting a vigorous defense," he said.

A representative from the Rosemont police department declined to comment.

Christopher Cooper is being held without bond in the Cook County Jail. He'll be arraigned at the Rolling Meadows courthouse on Oct. 9. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. If convicted, Patricia Cooper could receive a sentence of four to 15 years in prison.