advertisement

Charges dropped against man arrested by accused Schaumburg officers

Cook County prosecutors on Wednesday dismissed drug charges against an Elk Grove Village man who was ordered freed from prison last month because of questions about the credibility of the former Schaumburg officer who arrested him.

Victor Alvarado, 29, had served about 10 months of a six-year term when Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon vacated his sentence because of the involvement of arresting officer Matthew Hudak, a former Schaumburg undercover officer facing drug conspiracy charges in DuPage County.

Alvarado was released several weeks ago from the Sheridan Correctional Center, where he had been held since he pleaded guilty to manufacture and delivery of cocaine charges last June.

Alvarado's attorney said he initially agreed to the plea deal because he feared a longer prison term if he lost at trial.

At a hearing before Hanlon in January 2012, Alvarado testified that Hudak never read him his Miranda rights when Hudak and fellow former Schaumburg undercover officer Terrance O'Brien came to his home on Nov. 12, 2010, searching for drugs. Alvarado also testified that he never indicated to officers the location of drugs found in the home he shared with three other people. Alvarado's version of the arrest contradicted Hudak's, but Hanlon at that time found the officer's account more credible and denied Alvarado's motion to quash his arrest.

Earlier this year, DuPage authorities arrested Hudak, O'Brien and John Cichy on charges they sold drugs they skimmed from seizures. The men resigned from the police department in January. All have pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.

Alvarado appeared in court for Wednesday's hearing accompanied by defense attorney Victor Ciardelli, who said he had anticipated that prosecutors would drop the charges against his client at that time.

Despite spending 10 months in prison, Alvarado is not angry about what happened and is satisfied with the way his case concluded, Ciardelli said.

“He was relieved, grateful and happy to get on with his life,” Ciardelli said

Inmate wants sentence vacated

Farflung fallout from Schaumburg cops' arrests

Judge vacates guilty plea because of former Schaumburg cop

Terrance O'Brien
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.