* The House Republicans just sent out a press release documenting Keith Matune’s arrest record. As you know, Matune is challenging Rep. Ron Sandack in the GOP primary.

The HGOP release talked about Matune’s public indecency/resisting arrest charges and the DuPage County bust for allegedly bouncing a check in Virginia, but this other arrest was news to me…

Arrest 3: Charged with criminal trespass: gaining entry to a woman’s dormitory through a window a year after leaving college

Direct from court documents:

On January 17, 1994, Keith Matune knowingly and intentionally entered the Shoemaker Cooperative after having been denied entry as evidenced by his having to enter through a window.

On January 26, 1994, the Court is advised that Matune has been arrested on warrant and posted bond. The Court orders Matune to appear in court in person on February 14, 1994. The Court advises that if Matune fails to appear a re-arrest warrant will be issued.

On February 14, 1994, Matune enters a plea of not guilty and requests trial by jury. The court sets a trial date for June 21, 1994.

On April 18, 1994, Matune signs a plea agreement and the court withholds prosecution, but orders Matune to show written proof of completion of all conditions of probation (2 payments of $50, good and lawful behavior, and not to enter the premises again).

* Kinda creepy. And check this out…

Arrest 2/conviction: Convicted of Public Indecency/Charged with Resisting Arrest – Matune does not disclose conviction on his teaching application in May, 2013 (Which is a crime in itself)

Direct from certified court documents:

On December, 18, 1992, in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Keith Matune did knowingly or intentionally, in a public place, appear in a state of nudity. Matune also did knowingly or intentionally: forcibly resist, obstruct or interfere with a law enforcement officer. The prosecuting attorney for the State of Indiana filed both charges with affidavit supporting probable cause. Matune appears before the court in Sheriff’s custody.

On April 7, 1993, Matune withdraws his plea of Not Guilty and enters a plea of Guilty to the charge of public indecency. Matune is sentenced to 1 year in jail, the sentence was suspended and Matune was placed on probation for 1 year having to meet the following conditions: pay court costs, maintain good and lawful behavior, and complete any program of counseling recommended for him by his counselors in the State of Virginia. (Matune gave law enforcement and the courts a Virginia address.)

Emphasis was added to point out that less than a year after Matune was put on one-year probation, he was busted again for breaking into that women’s dormitory.

* Now, about that “first” arrest…

Arrest 1: Felony warrant of arrest issued in Montgomery Co., Virginia
On February 3, 1991, Matune wrote a bad check for $500. On March 26, 1991 a felony warrant was issued for the arrest of Keith Matune, a hearing date was set for April 24, 1991 and Matune failed to appear. The warrant was for a felony charge of larceny by check in the amount $500 (not $150 as Matune claims).

Fugitive from justice: felony charge in Illinois

On May 3, 1991, Keith Matune was pulled over in Downers Grove for driving with bright headlights. During this stop, a routine check on the offender revealed an N.C.I.C. warrant for Matune’s arrest out of Montgomery Co., Virginia. Matune was then taken into custody. The Montgomery County Sheriff then notified the Downers Grove police that they “will immediately initiate the extradition process to return him to Montgomery County.” The DuPage County state’s attorney then authorized an additional felony charge of “fugitive from justice.” Matune was booked and taken to DuPage County jail. Court records show bail was set at $20,000.

On May 23, 1991, Matune appeared in DuPage County to face the felony charge of “fugitive from justice.” Court records state that Matune “fled the Commonwealth of Virginia with the intent to avoid prosecution for that [larceny] offense.”

The extradition was only cancelled after Matune was forced to pay restitution.

* OK, so if you look at the original Virginia arrest warrant, you’ll see that the man who swore that Matune wrote a check “with the intent to defraud, knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account to pay said check,” was a guy named Edward Jasie.

Ed Jasie is now deceased, but he was a criminal defense attorney.

So, Matune bounces a check to a noted criminal defense attorney (and a former commonwealth attorney) then heads to Illinois.

Which begs the question, might there be more to the curious case of Keith Matune?

Full document dump is here.

*** UPDATE *** Dan Proft’s new TV ad blasting Sandack and supporting Matune…