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Registration Is Now Underway Visit our website for deta ils about our Summer Camp & Water Park Pass Sales, ne w classes, and fun Special Events. Deer Grove Leisure Center 1000 W. Wood St. | 630-76 6-7015 bensenvilleparkdistrict.org
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VOL. 14 • NO. 16
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018
DuPage judge acquitted of misdemeanor reckless conduct O’Shea assigned to administrative duties only at courthouse
gally deficient.” At the trial, O’Shea stipulated that he had fired the gun, but his attorney Terry Ekl argued that, although it may have been a careless act, his actions did not meet the legal standard
of reckless conduct. The complaint also failed to identify anyone whose safety was endangered by O’Shea’s actions, which is required by statute. While prosecutors were critical of O’Shea’s initial alleged lies to cover
up responsibility, the judge agreed with Ekl that the incident fell short of “reckless conduct.” It was expected that O’Shea would meet with DuPage County Chief Judge Daniel Guerin to discuss rein-
statement to the bench. As of March 26, O’Shea had been temporarily assigned to administrative duties only and will not return to the bench until a further order of the court, Guerin said in a statement.
By Dee Longfellow FOR THE VILLA PARK INDEPENDENT
Bundle up – it’s APRIL?! DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Villa Park Independent
These two little girls were out on Saturday taking part in an opportunity to string their own beaded necklaces. It was bright and sunny but it was also quite cold – so they had to dress for November weather, rather than April!
Inside:
Police Reports...........4 Sports ����������������������7 Out & About.......... 10 Classifieds..........13-13
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In early March, DuPage County Circuit Court Judge Patrick O’Shea was acquitted of a charge of reckless conduct, which involved the discharge of a firearm in his apartment that reportedly entered his neighbor’s unit as well. The incident took place in September, when O’Shea was alone in his apartment and discharged a snub-nosed revolver, which penetrated the wall and went into his neighbor’s home. He went next door and knocked, but the neighbors were not home. O’Shea found a building worker and reportedly said the hole in the wall was caused by a screwdriver or a nail gun. Later, however, the neighbor found the spent slug in their apartment at which time, police were called and O’Shea was arrested. At that time, O’Shea, 67, of the 200 block of E. Willow Road in Wheaton, was immediately suspended from the bench and had to forfeit his unrestricted access to court facilities in the DuPage County Courthouse building unless escorted by deputies. Due to O’Shea’s close connection to DuPage County and to avoid a potential conflict of interest, the trial was moved to Kane County under Associate Judge Keith Johnson. The judge threw the case out in the middle of the trial, citing that prosecutors had failed to meet the legal burden of proof and that the complaint filed against O’Shea was “le-
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