Slapping charges dropped against Lakemoor official's wife

McHenry County prosecutors dismissed a domestic battery charge today against the wife of Lakemoor Village Trustee Nick Weber and are likely to do the same for Weber himself when he appears before a judge next month.

Laura L. Weber, 38, declined to comment today after prosecutors dismissed the Class A misdemeanor charge alleging she slapped her husband across the face during a June 12 altercation at the couple's home, 416 N. Willow Road.

Nick Weber, 41, also faces a domestic battery charge from the fight, alleging he struck his wife.

McHenry County Sheriff's reports say Nick Weber suffered a cut on his left ear and scratches on his forehead during the altercation. His wife suffered a swollen nose, cut right ring finger and bruised arm, reports state.

Both Webers told deputies they were consuming alcohol before the dispute.

First Assistant State's Attorney Thomas Carroll said it would not be possible to prove a case against one of the Webers without the cooperation of the other, something the office could not expect because of the likelihood one would have to incrimate himself or herself in order to testify against the other.

"We did not believe we could prosecute the charge independent of (the Webers') testimony, and that would have created Fifth Amendment issues," Carroll said. "When possible we will do prosecute without a victim's testimony, but in this case we simply did not have the ability to do that."

Weber has been a Lakemoor trustee since winning election to a two-year board term in 2003. He was re-elected in 2005 and has said he intends to serve until his term expires in May 2009.

Laura Weber still faces a felony charge in Lake County alleging she stole as much as $50,000 from Camp Duncan YMCA near Waukegan while serving as its business manager in 2006. She pleaded not guilty July 2 and is the case is scheduled for trial Sept. 29.