Lake Zurich trustee chooses bench trial in domestic battery case
The criminal case against Lake Zurich Trustee Jim Beaudoin, who was charged with two counts of domestic violence stemming from a Dec. 12 altercation with his girlfriend, is set to be decided during a bench trial in April.
During a virtual hearing Wednesday morning, Beaudoin's defense attorney Douglas Zeit requested a bench trial, meaning the judge will decide the case and not a jury.
Lake County Judge Reginald C. Mathews approved the request and set the trial to begin on April 8.
The trial will be conducted in-person, Matthews said.
Beaudoin, 48, appeared at the hearing virtually from Zeit's office. In December, he paid 10% of his $10,000 bail and was released from jail while the case is pending.
Assistant State's Attorney Kristian Nordby said at a previous court hearing that Beaudoin had flipped his girlfriend on her back and briefly choked her and the woman struck Beaudoin in the face while she was pinned. Nordby said the police officer who arrested Beaudoin observed the woman had redness on her neck and back.
Beaudoin's girlfriend appeared at a previous court hearing and told the judge that the altercation was an isolated incident and asked that Beaudoin be allowed to return home.
"I don't even know what happened," she said during a December hearing. "It never should have happened. Jim is a good person. I would really appreciate it if you would let him come home."
She said she had COVID-19 a few weeks prior and had been having some neurological problems, including blackouts and loss of memory.
At the following virtual court hearing, Matthews agreed to allow Beaudoin to return to the home he shares with the woman. Matthews said Beaudoin was required not to be violent or harassing toward his girlfriend.
The charges against Beaudoin are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail if he's convicted.
His term as village trustee is set to expire in the spring. He is not seeking reelection.