Politics: LaHood’s statement on Lyon’s accusations (UPDATED)
(press release)
STATEMENT FROM DARIN LAHOOD
Peoria, IL – Darin LaHood, candidate for Peoria County State’s Attorney has issued the following statement in response to Kevin Lyons’ statement yesterday:“Five children between the ages of 13 and 16 were allegedly raped by a convicted felon out on parole over the course of 13 months leading up to January of this year. Monterius Hinkle was arrested at least three times by law enforcement, and was never charged for any rape by the State’s Attorney Office until the fifth rape. He should have been charged the first time. Instead, Hinkle left five rape victims and their devastated families. Concerned citizens of this community want answers as to why Hinkle was walking the streets of Peoria after four alleged rapes.â€
Kevin Lyons has reduced the criminal justice system – particularly in this case – to political expediency; he has made false accusations against me, and he is ultimately responsible that Hinkle was free, on the streets of Peoria to allegedly commit these multiple rapes. I am a candidate for the office of State’s Attorney and yesterday the Peoria Heights police officers endorsed my candidacy by giving me the unanimous support of police organizations throughout the County. Law enforcement has collectively said that Lyons offers them no support as they tirelessly work to keep our streets safe.
I make no apologies for continuing to ascertain how families who have been victimized by unspeakable crimes feel about their treatment in our criminal justice system. I have this responsibility as a candidate for State’s Attorney This is crucial because the safety and security of our community depends it. At the very least, citizens should expect that violent criminals are sent to prison the first time and not allowed to roam the streets and commit further crimes. My commitment to the citizens of Peoria County is to put violent criminals where they belong–behind bars.â€
UPDATED: This link will take you to images of Kevin Lyon’s statement. If anyone cares to run this through an OCR program and send me the text, I’ll print it verbatim. But I’m not gonna retype it. Lyons is overwrought with indignation at how LaHood exploited the girl. He said this in front the television cameras. About the man running against him for state’s attorney.
August 20th, 2008 at 5:22 am
LaHood does not deny that he met with at least one of the victims for a case that is not yet his to prosecute.
Interesting….
August 20th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Darin had best chill out. Doing this sort of song and dance is just about the only thing that can keep him from getting elected. Lyons creates about 200 feet of additional rope every day to hang himself, just by being Kevin Lyons. LaHood plays into his hands by doing this stupid stuff. Chill, Darin, chill.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Mahkno,
During his interview with the press he said never spoke to the victim.
As far as the Lyons case, he DOES deny meeting with the ‘victim’. He said he talked to the mother and father, but not the victim. And by ‘victim’, I mean the girl in question.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
LaHood is outraged that this man was out on the streets raping several girls and that he should have been arrested after the first rape.
1. Did the police do their jobs and collect the right evidence to prosecute?
2. Did the rape victims balk at testifying b/c they were afraid, therefore rendering a successful prosectution impossible (or intimidated into dropping chrages)?
If yes, then prosecuting this rapist without proper evidence very well could put this man back on the streets with double jeopardy on that case he just walked from and that vicitm will NEVER be heard, NEVER receive justice, NEVER be able to testify for another victim of this man’s rape.
There are so many factors to consider before taking a case to court. Does LaHood know this and chooses to obfuscate these facts with a good old fashioned “pearl necklace clutch” of outrage over the fact this guy raped 4 women? HOW DARE HE USE A RAPED WOMAN”S SITUATION TO ADVANCE HIS CAREER!!!!! Now, THAT’S outrage, now where’s my fainting couch.
He knows why this man was out on the streets and he knows there was nothing Kevin Lyons could have OR SHOULD have done in order to prevent further damage to a potential case down the road.
This poor child was raped. It appears she and her family were in the process of being intimidated (b/c if she doesn’t testify or press charges, this clown will WALK the streets like he did on the first four intimidations) and again…there will be another victim.
None of this is Lyon’s fault and LaHood knows it…he’s posturing because he’s a sleazy bag, interferring with a case, trying to win an election and has now proven he will sink to the lowest sommon denominator to win. Exploiting a child’s rape to create outrage when he knows there is none.
I say…send a message to the police department that gave him the records to preview….don’t elect LaHood.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Anon, seems like you are privy to some information the general public is not. What details of these cases are you not sharing and from where did you get them? So either you received information under the table, in which case you are the pot to LaHood’s kettle, or you were involved in the situation in which case you’re abusing your position the same as Lyons to cast a poor light on the soon-to-be Peoria County State’s Attorney.
So would you care to let us know where you got ALL of your information from?
August 20th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
The crazy thing about this entire situation is that all of Lyons’s supporters can stop talking about how horrible it is for LaHood to use this victim and her family for political gain, when in reality the only person in this whole ordeal who sought even the slightest political gain is the current sub-human sleaze-bag state’s attorney.
Great job Mr. Lyons, I hope you can sleep well at night knowing that you’re trying to gain political capital by taking advantage of a rape victim.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Write anything negative about Lyons, and I’m pestered by anonymous commenters — many of whom comment on nothing else.
No, there’s nothing suspicious about that.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Anon 1:12 p.m.: About a year and a half ago, I talked to a former Peoria resident who worked as a prosecutor in northern Illinois and who is now a rather high-priced attorney. This person told me about that attorneys with experience OUTSIDE Peoria County are far more willing to go to court than Lyons seems to be. So they go to court with not enough evidence to convict, I asked. No, they don’t worry as much about a guaranteed conviction. It’s better to lose a case or two than not prosecute someone the SA’s office thinks is guilty, but tyhe evidence is less than slam dunk. Demonstrated a lack of faith in the skill of the SA office.
This has been going on for 12 years.
I tried to talk this person into coming back to Peoria to run. No dice.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Bill: “…interfering with a case…” wouldn’t that be “…obstruction of justice…” Let’s not forget how many felonies Lyons felt free to accuse me of when I was running for his office. And when I sued, rather than defend his own words, he pulled the sovereign immunity card and Judge Manning let him off the hook.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
I would suggest everyone read Anons’ comments on this matter-they make great sense to an objective viewer.
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I have been reading your blog for about a month and enjoy it very much. Think it’s the best.
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I admired – and continue to admire- Chase’s passion and determination. Thanks for all you did back then , Chase. I wish you had won.
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Mary — Yes, we all agree that Billy’s blog is best. Not surprising, considering he has nothing else to do but blog!
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Conrad: Chase has always been a good friend to this site, and I also am amazed at his passion.
And C.J.: I see you are putting your kid to work writing comments.
August 30th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Conrad: I have no idea who you are, but your comment deserves you of the rest of the story.
That evening of November 1996, after the election results were in, my girlfriend of a little over a year said, “…I’m glad you lost. If you had won you would not have had any time for me.” 12 years later, that woman is my wife of 10 years and mother of our two children.
Conrad…..I did win. I won big. And I won something that I don’t have to worry about someone trying to take away from me every four years.
August 30th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Billy, is your Mom’s name Mary by any chance?
August 30th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Chase – great story!
August 30th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
No. I don’t THINK I have an relatives on Dad’s side names Mary, though. Mom’s name is “Martha” or “Marty,” to her friends and family,
August 30th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Mr. Ingersoll: I recall the Appellate Court agreed with Judge Manning and affirmed his judgment dismisssing your frivolous lawsuit-that was a long time ago but I believe I am correct.