Prosecutor wants to revoke school board member's probation

A Lake County prosecutor has notified lawyers for Wauconda school board member Nicholas Batson that he will seek to have Batson's misdemeanor probation revoked.

Assistant State's Attorney Ken LaRue said Tuesday he believes Batson violated the terms of his probation for domestic battery by attending an Aug. 30 party where the victim and members of her family were present.

Neither Batson nor his attorney returned phone calls seeking comment.

Batson, elected to the Wauconda Unit District 118 school board in 2005, was charged in December with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Police said he molested a 14-year-old female relative in his home Dec. 5, and Batson was facing up to seven years in prison.

However, LaRue agreed in July to allow Batson to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery because there wasn't any DNA or other physical evidence supporting the original charge.

Batson was sentenced to two years probation and was given a 6-month jail sentence the judge said he would not have to serve if he complied with the terms of the probation.

He was also ordered to have no contact with the girl or her relatives, but LaRue said the girl's father took several pictures of Batson at a party he and his daughter attended.

LaRue said he was unaware of any evidence Batson had any contact with the girl, but believes the judge's order was still violated.

LaRue said he will formally move to have Batson's probation revoked Sept. 17, and may ask the jail sentence be imposed at that time.

If Batson is found in violation and is resentenced on the lesser charge, he faces up to one year in the county jail.