Former Des Plaines alderman candidate acquitted
Former Des Plaines aldermanic candidate Mario Palacios, who was arrested last December for impersonating a government official, was recently acquitted of the charge, according to his Chicago attorney.
Palacios, 44, of the 1900 block of Illinois Street, was charged with impersonation of a government official on Dec. 17, 2010, after police say he presented a sheriff’s deputy at the Skokie courthouse with a Des Plaines fire and police commissioner badge.
The badge wasn’t authentic — it had been presented to Palacios by his wife as a memento when he retired from the commission in April 2010.The case was originally set to go to trial before the April 5 consolidated election but it kept getting pushed back.
Palacios lost his bid for the city#146;s 6th Ward alderman seat to incumbent Mark Walsten, who was elected to his second term. Palacios garnered 65 votes to Walsten#146;s 434 votes.
At the time, Palacios never responded to media requests for comments about the impersonation charge or his candidacy.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Henry Singer found Palacios not guilty following a Nov. 17 bench trial during which two witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution #8212; a sheriff#146;s deputy at the Skokie courthouse and a police officer, said Palacios#146; attorney Michael O#146;Meara.
Though it took awhile to bring the case to trial, #147;we maintained that (Palacios) was innocent the whole time,#148; O#146;Meara said.
If convicted, Palacios faced a penalty of less than a year in jail.