A judge imposed pre-trial conditions after a North Chicago alderman appeared for his first court hearing where he pleaded not guilty to damaging government property.
North Chicago City Alderman Anthony D. Coleman, 49, was charged on March 13 in Lake County Circuit Court with felony official misconduct and felony criminal damage to government-supported property.
Coleman, a North Chicago resident, is accused in a two-count indictment of knowingly damaging the surveillance video system at the North Chicago Water Treatment Plant on August 8.
The indictment said Coleman damaged the wire connection to a camera. The damage was less than $500.
An investigation by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Financial Crimes and Public Integrity Unit was conducted.
Investigators found that Coleman cut the wires to a video camera in the plant and removed the camera, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the camera was installed earlier in 2023 with the approval of the North Chicago City Council.
The City of North Chicago and the North Chicago Police Department referred the matter to Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office investigators to avoid a conflict of interest.
“Coleman gained access to the water plant as a public official and destroyed an appropriate and legal camera system. This Defendant doesn’t get to overrule the City Council by destroying government property,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the charges were filed last month.
The state’s attorney’s office declined to provide a potential motive for Coleman’s alleged actions.
Coleman was sworn into his position in May 2023 after being elected to office.
The case will be prosecuted by Chief Kevin Berrill and Assistant State’s Attorney Russell Caskey from the Financial Crimes & Public Integrity Unit of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
When reached by phone, Coleman’s only comment on the matter was announcing that he would be running for mayor again in 2025.
After the grand jury indictment was returned, Coleman was issued a notice to appear in court.
Coleman appeared alongside his attorney Robert T. Ritacca during an arraignment hearing before Lake County Judge James Booras on Thursday.
Coleman pleaded not guilty to the charges after being arraigned.
Booras placed Coleman on pre-trial services and ordered him to not leave the state without court permission.
The judge also ordered him to be processed in the Lake County Jail, which included having his booking photo taken. He was released from custody as the charges are non-detainable under the SAFE-T Act.
Coleman is scheduled to appear in court again this coming Thursday.
He was the second elected official in Lake County to be charged with felonies on the same day.
Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly was also charged on March 13 with over a dozen felonies after prosecutors say she illegally provided credits to businesses applying for liquor and gambling licenses.