Judge postpones sentencing for trustee

Sentencing for Carpentersville Trustee Paul Humpfer on his domestic battery conviction was postponed Thursday because he has gotten a new defense attorney.

Trustee Paul Humpfer earlier this week retained attorney Patrick Crimmins of Brady & Jensen in Elgin to replace Van Richards.

His sentencing was delayed until July 31.

Kane County Judge James Hallock allowed the new defense attorney until a July 17 hearing to review the case and file appropriate motions.

Crimmins said he would likely seek a retrial.

Humpfer would not elaborate on his reasons for hiring a new lawyer.

But in an emergency motion filed Tuesday, Crimmins stated that Humpfer has "articulated questions and/or allegations regarding his case, including what could be allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel … which need to be fully researched."

Crimmins also is representing Humpfer and Trustee Judy Sigwalt in a possible civil case against village board members regarding issues of libel, slander, defamation and privacy, the motion says.

Assistant State's Attorney Liz Lovig objected to the sentencing delay, arguing Humpfer's wife, Jacqueline, has a right to closure.

"This is not closed until we have a sentencing," Lovig said.

Richards represented Humpfer throughout the two-day bench trial and subsequent post-trial hearings.

Humpfer was convicted in March on four counts of misdemeanor domestic battery for hitting his wife in the legs with a baseball bat.

Sentencing was delaying in early April when the defense sought a retrial. That request was denied in May.

The trustee faces up to a year in jail.