CHAMPAIGN, IL. (ECWd) –
We were present in the courtroom with video cameras (the court authorized extended media coverage) in 2018 when Samuel J. Byndom was arraigned on felony eavesdropping for his alleged attempts at recording a closed session meeting of the Urbana School Board through the use of an ink pen with a hidden voice activated audio recording device inside of it.
Byndom is the former assistant superintendent of Urbana School District 116.
Originally charged with felony eavesdropping, Byndom was sentenced in Champaign County Circuit Court today (according to the docket report).
A Champaign County Circuit Court Judge handed a misdemeanor sentence to Byndom consisting of 90 days court supervision, a fine, and 30 hours of community service. This is a “withhold judgement / court supervision” sentence meaning it can be stricken (dismissed) from his record after completion of the sentence.
