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* Rockford Register-Star…
Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz does not plan to resign from office, so says his attorney.
Hintz, who was arrested last week on charges of forgery, theft, conspiracy to commit theft and official misconduct, appeared briefly in court Tuesday with his attorney, Mark Byrd.
Hintz was informed Judge Joe McGraw has been assigned to the case and was told his next court date is 9 a.m. Oct. 20.
Hintz declined to talk once outside the courtroom, but Byrd said his client is to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and he said the coroner has no intention of resigning from his post.
“Why would an innocent man leave a job that he loves?” Byrd said.
* Earlier…
Winnebago County Board members are split on the call for Coroner Bill Hintz’s resignation after Hintz was charged Thursday with forgery, theft, conspiracy to commit theft and official misconduct.
Seven board members contacted by the Register Star said Hintz should step down immediately while four board members contend Hintz should be allowed to stay on the job pending the outcome of his criminal case.
Three County Board members said they are undecided. The remaining six board members were not immediately available for comment. […]
However, at least three County Board Republicans believe Hintz should be allowed to stay on the job while his case plays out in court.
“Innocent until proven guilty,” said Jim Webster, R-2. “Until it goes through the judicial system, we don’t know all of the facts of the case.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:15 pm
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Previous Post: The Metro East region has the highest positivity rate in the state, but its leaders remain stubbornly defiant
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He should be put on paid administrative leave pending resolution of the case, especially since he is charge with Official Misconduct, meaning he allegedly abused the powers of his office for personal gain, or committed acts or omissions he is barred from committing by law. There should be a Deputy Coroner to run the office in his stead. I bet the Board is consulting with counsel over this mess.
Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:25 pm
I’m sure those same Winnebago Republicans have been consistent in their calls as it relates to others /snark
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:26 pm
=== However, at least three County Board Republicans believe Hintz should be allowed to stay on the job while his case plays out in court.
“Innocent until proven guilty,” said Jim Webster, R-2. “Until it goes through the judicial system, we don’t know all of the facts of the case.”===
* Unless it’s Mike Madigan, then disregard.
To the post,
Dunno how willing someone wants to be, first, be a coroner, then be a coroner under indictment.
“Odd” job, now under a cloud.
On brand for 2020
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:29 pm
The presumption of innocence is the rock upon which the history of American jurisprudence rests.
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:29 pm
===should be put on paid administrative leave===
Who is gonna do that? Seriously. He’s an elected official.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:38 pm
According to these charges, his wife was also arrested for illegal use of a county credit card.
https://wrex.com/2020/09/03/criminal-complaints-shed-light-on-alleged-illegal-activities-that-led-to-winnebago-county-coroner-and-wifes-arrest/
Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 4:44 pm
As an elected official, who has the power to remove him and through what procedure? There must be some form of impeachment that applies.
Avoiding criminal conviction standards should not be the standard for keeping the job.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:05 pm
Remember this Coroner? Deferred prosecution.
https://www.whig.com/20190404/keller-gets-first-offender-probation
Comment by Live Wire Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:12 pm
” “Innocent until proven guilty,” said Jim Webster, R-2.”
Does that apply to Mike Madigan?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:12 pm
“New York Death Investigation Seminar”… I was looking forward to their tour before the pandemic shut down all the clubs.
Comment by Tim Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:13 pm
This predates my arrival in Illinois, so looking for some help here … but if I remember my Mike Royko correctly (his columns ran nationwide), he said the primary job requirement for a Cook County Deputy Coroner was to be able to appraise the $ value of jewelry on a corpse within seconds. A major reason they now have an appointed Medical Examiner. Perhaps Winnebago County will follow that example?
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:16 pm
Worth noting that one of those board members “unsure” if he should resign previously demanded the resignation of the County Board Chairman because the chairman had the gall to appoint someone else (a minority woman) to a position currently held by that board member.
https://www.wifr.com/2020/07/10/feud-over-proposed-appointments-leads-to-call-for-chairperson-frank-haneys-resignation/
but, for this, he’s unsure.
Comment by btw Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:26 pm
Well Raymond Martin the former sheriff of Gallatin County refused to resign and drew his salary until his conviction on drug charges and attempting to get the States Attorney murdered. I believe Gallatin County finally got some of their money back.
Comment by Nieva Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:33 pm
-BTW-
I agree. Where have we heard something like this before:
“The Winnebago County Board decided to table all four of Haney’s proposed appointments by a 16-3 vote. Those in favor say they believe that the appointments should be something the new chairperson should make when voted in this November.”
Comment by Live Wire Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 5:37 pm
–” “Innocent until proven guilty,” said Jim Webster, R-2.”
Does that apply to Mike Madigan?–
Of course it does on criminal charges. Politically, I guess it’s up to his constituents, his party and his chamber to determine.
Comment by 618er Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 6:23 pm
For everyone asking if the claims from Jim Webster of “Innocent until proven guilty” apply to Mike Madigan.
No.
The republicans have become a team. There is no concern for how anything looks from the point of view of a mere citizen. All that matters for the team is controlling the levers of power.
Madigan is not on the team, so the treatment given to him is different.
Stop pretending this is funny. It’s not. It’s dangerous.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Sep 8, 20 @ 11:05 pm
So the GOP has a different standard for a Republican elected official who has been indicted than they do for a Democratic elected official who is being investigated. They call one innocent and demand the other resign posthaste.
Comment by anon1 Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 10:29 am
This coroner and his wife have been in and out of foreclosure since before he was elected. Only in Illinois do we invite thieves into our open pocket book.
Comment by TiredOfIt Wednesday, Sep 9, 20 @ 2:26 pm