* From a press release…

Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that Rock Island County Sheriff Jeffrey Boyd resigned and pled guilty [yesterday] to attempted official misconduct based on attempted cyberstalking.

Boyd, 48, of Rock Island, pled guilty before Judge Jeffrey O’Connor earlier today to one count of attempted official misconduct based on attempted cyberstalking. As part of his guilty plea, Boyd resigned and has withdrawn his re-election candidacy in the November election. He has also forfeited the pension he earned during his term as Rock Island County Sheriff.

Madigan alleged Boyd used his position as sheriff to intimidate and threaten a woman he met at a Rock Island gym. Boyd pursued the woman, who is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, over repeated text messages. After the victim asked Boyd to stop and leave her alone, Boyd continued to pursue the woman, attempting to use his position in public office and as a law enforcement officer to intimidate and harass the victim. In June, Madigan said Boyd went further, leveling a threat against the victim in an anonymous text message, putting the victim in fear for her safety.

“Mr. Boyd was elected by the people of Rock Island County to serve as its top law enforcement officer, but unfortunately he attempted to use his position to intimidate and stalk his victim,” Madigan said. “My office sought his resignation and criminal conviction to ensure he can no longer abuse the power that the people of Rock Island County entrusted in him.”

Under today’s agreed sentence, Boyd is forbidden from contacting the victim.

Madigan’s Public Integrity Bureau prosecuted the case based on a referral from the Illinois State Police, which investigated the case.

Wow.

* The sheriff will actually resign today, and he doesn’t seem all that contrite…

“But I still believe in my heart of hearts I have not committed a crime,” he said during a news conference Thursday in front of the Rock Island County Justice Center, which he has overseen as sheriff since 2010. As part of his plea, he also must forfeit the pension he has earned in his four years as sheriff. […]

“There’s no public information to support any threats (were made),” he said. “I challenge that. It’s not accurate.”

Lang and Boyd also disputed Madigan’s characterization of the plea being based on attempted cyberstalking. County records also include cyberstalking as part of the charge, but Boyd said the record needs to be corrected. He also bristled at the suggestion that his case is similar to that of former State’s Attorney Jeff Terronez, who resigned in a 2011 scandal involving a minor.

“We’re here over Jeff Boyd’s legal problems,” he said, his wife, Ann Boyd, standing at his side. She is employed as director of advertising sales for the Quad-City Times.

* As noted in the story, the local state’s attorney resigned a few years ago after a sex scandal involving a minor. Both the former state’s attorney and the sheriff are Democrats.

I’m not attempting to make light of this crime by dragging politics into the story, but there are three important campaigns going on right now which include all or part of Rock Island County: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, state Sen. Mike Jacobs and state Rep. Mike Smiddy. All three incumbents are Democrats. This latest scandal won’t be good for the local party at all. And if any of those races end up being close, this stunning resignation, coming so soon after another one, could be a factor there.