Records show Mount Prospect cop takes back guilty plea
A Mount Prospect police sergeant who has been on administrative leave since he was arrested after a fight at his home last summer now has taken back his guilty plea to the resulting charge, court records show.
McHenry County Judge Michael W. Feetterer on Friday vacated Sgt. Anthony Lietzow's plea of guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting a peace officer, according to court records. Lietzow had entered the plea Oct. 21 as part of a deal in which prosecutors dismissed two felony charges against him of aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery to a peace officer.
The charges stemmed from a July 19 fight at Lietzow's home in Huntley, according to a police report and court records.
After entering the guilty plea, Lietzow, 44, was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge, which is a type of probation, and ordered to pay more than $2,200 in fines and court fees.
Since he was given the sentence, Lietzow's job with the Mount Prospect Police Department has been in question.
First, a McHenry County judge ordered him to surrender any weapons and barred him from carrying a firearm. Then the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board decertified Lietzow, which prevents him from working as a police officer. Last month the board of fire and police commissioners in Mount Prospect met to consider his employment status, but delayed issuing a decision.
Lietzow is an 11-year veteran of the Mount Prospect force who has served as a patrol officer, narcotics officer and a member of the Major Case Assistance Team.
He was named the department's officer of the year in 2005, 2007 and 2009, and in 2006 he received the Cook County Sheriff's Award of Merit. In 2014 he was promoted to sergeant.
Court records show judge Feetterer reset the case and scheduled a status hearing for 9 a.m. Feb. 8.
Leitzow's attorney did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday.