A Lake County activist, founder and Executive Director of the Lake County Chapter of Black Lives Matter is facing contempt of court charges for taking pictures of a judicial proceeding without receiving authorization by the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County, court records show.
Clyde McLemore, of Zion, admitted to taking pictures in Lake County court when attending the court case for a former Waukegan police officer charged with second degree murder and posting those pictures on his Facebook account.
When contacted Friday, McLemore said he is a reporter, has press credentials and access to Lake County courtrooms.
“If Trump can get 34 felonies and still run for President, you’re gonna convict me of taking a picture of a police officer in court?” McLemore said when reached for comment Friday. “White privilege strikes again.”
McLemore took the pictures when attending a court hearing for Dante Salinas, 39, of Gurnee, a former Waukegan police officer charged with three counts of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for killing 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette in October of 2020. Salinas is also facing charges of official misconduct and one count of aggravated battery causing bodily harm stemming from a separate case for allegedly pistol-whipping Angel Salgado during an arrest in August of 2019.
McLemore was attending the Salinas court hearing at about 9:20 a.m. on April 25 when he took two photos in the courtroom of Salinas standing in front of the judge, a complaint filed in Lake County Circuit Court reads.
A victim witness specialist with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office was also in the courtroom and witnessed McLemore using his cell phone to snap the pictures, the complaint reads.Â
The court complaint states McLemore was confronted the next day about taking the pictures by a sergeant with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
McLemore acknowledged to the sergeant he took the pictures, admitted he shouldn’t have done so, but told the sergeant “I do what I want to…”, the complaint reads.
The Illinois Supreme Court allows photographs and video recordings of court proceedings only through judicial approval days in advance of any court activity taking place. People who violate the rule can be charged with contempt of court.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office was tasked to prosecute the case, but because an employee is a witness on the case, they recused themselves due to a conflict of interest, authorities said.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has been appointed, court records show.
McLemore is due back in court June 12 at 10 a.m.