Former LaSalle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne yet to be booked.

LaSalle Co. (ECWd) –

Former State’s Attorney Brian Towne was in court today for his arraignment, however, you wouldn’t have gotten the impression he was in any trouble as he joked and laughed with his attorneys along the rail at the top of the steps.  It was evident however his humor vacated when he was standing alone. 

With just over a dozen protesters present chanting “Down with Towne”, his attorney felt it appropriate to make a joke out of the protesters by stating, “one thing’s for sure, nobody missed work today,” implying the protesters don’t have jobs.  We spoke with several of them and contrary to Towne’s attorney, they took time off from work.

Towne has yet to be processed through booking like any other alleged criminal facing 17 felony counts and we wonder if and when his mug shot will be on file.

Today’s hearing was a waste of time as the Judge refused to hear any motions at the direction of the actual judge who will be hearing the case, Clark Erickson, who presides in the Kankakee court system. Included in the proposed motions that were simply entered into the file was a motion to set Bond, dated September 6, 2017, and a motion to amend the charges due to scriveners errors related to statute citations.

Retired Judge Bute has entered his appearance as counsel for Brian Towne which may make for some interesting events in the future in light of secret wiretap orders he had signed in cases managed by Brian Towne.  As we understand from another hearing today, the now-retired judge signed secret wiretap orders against a local attorney and her client, even though there was no corresponding case number. Bute was reported to the Judicial Inquiry Board regarding those secret orders and about a month later resigned.    We suspect such a resignation was not a coincidence.

Bute had his own response to a Towne protester who shared her anger with both Butes’ past actions and Towne.  Bute snapped back at her with: “I don’t give a shit”. 

We suspect when discovery hits in this case his position will change!

Towne’s next hearing is set for Friday, September 29th, 2017.

Outside the Courthouse, people were gathered to watch him exit the building – several shouted “Down with Towne” and “Lyin’ Brian”: