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Some people just don’t know when to quit

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Illinois

Jeff Boyd has filed to pursue his old position as Rock Island County Sheriff in next year’s election.

Mr. Boyd was elected sheriff in 2010. He resigned in September 2014 after entering an Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of attempted official misconduct that accused him of repeatedly harassing a woman he met at a Rock Island gym. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not contest the state’s evidence and presents no evidence himself. Mr. Boyd was replaced by then-sheriff’s office Capt. Gerry Bustos, who is still sheriff.

Sheriff Bustos and Mr. Boyd submitted their petitions on Monday, the first day of the submission period for candidates of established political parties who intend to run in the March 20 primary, according to the Rock Island County Clerk’s Office website. Both men are listed as Democrats.

* From 2014…

The sheriff of Rock Island County has resigned his post and dropped his re-election bid, after pleading no-contest to charges connected with cyberstalking.

The state attorney general’s office says Democrat Jeffrey Boyd entered what’s known as an Alford plea to attempted official misconduct charges Thursday — not admitting guilt, but acknowledging that prosecutors can likely prove the charges.

The 48-year-old Boyd was accused of using his position as sheriff to intimidate and threaten a woman he met at a Rock Island gym. The woman, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, received repeated text messages from Boyd, including, say prosecutors, an anonymous threatening message in June.

“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,'’ Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a news release.

* From 2015…

The victim of a cyber-stalking case that led to former Rock Island County Sheriff Jeff Boyd’s resignation has filed a federal suit against him, the county and its sheriff’s department. […]

A federal lawsuit filed this month in the U.S. District Court, Rock Island, identifies the woman as Andrea Favela and claims she was the victim of repeated threats, stalking and harassment by Mr. Boyd. The suit claims his conduct was “extreme and outrageous.”

The six-count suit calls the former sheriff’s actions “an arbitrary and egregious abuse of government power that shocks the conscience.”

The suit says Mr. Boyd, while sheriff, repeatedly threatened to reveal Ms. Favela’s status as a Mexican national illegally living in the United States if she didn’t return his romantic advances.

* From this past September…

Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office determined that Boyd used his position as sheriff to intimidate, stalk, and threaten the woman. He sent her selfies and bought her gifts, but when she refused his advances, her attorney says, Boyd threatened to try and deport her.

* From a recent Quad City Times editorial…

You abused your office and your power, Mr. Boyd.

You targeted an illegal immigrant, the most vulnerable, powerless victim you could find. You harassed her knowing that she risked everything if she went to the police. You refused to back off when she asked you to stop. You used your position as Rock Island County sheriff to threaten her when she rebuffed your advances.

Legally, it’s very possible that you can again seek your old job, from which you resigned after pleading guilty to official misconduct. But, by every legitimate moral standard, you forfeited any claim to office through your actions in 2014.

Please, just let it go and move on. Neither your ego nor vanity are worth the damage that your ill-fated quest for redemption would cause.

And yet people still wonder why we needed the Illinois Trust Act.

Oy.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:51 am

Comments

Don’t like him, do l8ke editorial

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 5:21 am
All this guy needs is a Trump pardon, and he’s golden.

Seriously though, I’m concerned for the woman. I’d be surprised if she’s not already been ratted out to ICE.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 6:25 am
Sounds like Sherrif Boyd is hard on illegal immigrants.

That is a rabidly popular position in many places.

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 8:06 am
Boyd apparently has no shame or moral compass. Grotesque abuse of power.

Considering the facts, the RI state’s attorney should have thrown the book at him, rather than agree to let Boyd slink away with an Alford plea.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 8:25 am
===From this past September===

I am glad he waited until the waters calmed down before filing his petitions.

Yeesh.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 8:43 am
He fails to tell people about the unsettled federal suit when he is campaigning. He tells people it was just a couple of text messages. I heard him speak. It made me want to throw up. He violated his oath of office. That’s all Bustos needs to campaign on.

Comment by He needs to go away Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 8:52 am
a real pillar of society

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:03 am
Go away dude.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:04 am
Maybe he’s hoping for $100,000 from Richard Uihlein?

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:14 am
This is a 48 year old man who has no one willing to tell him the truth. Sad.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:38 am
What good is it to be a jerk if you can’t act like a jerk?

Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:39 am
Don’t know what you got till it’s gone.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:41 am
===And yet people still wonder why we needed the Illinois Trust Act.===

Exactly. Too many people spread the lie that this was some sort of sanctuary bill and didn’t bother to read what it actually does.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:45 am
We should help him out with a campaign slogan.

Comment by Sigh Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:49 am
Jeff Boyd for Sheriff-Intimidating immigrants since 2010. You have a female in your life-I have a text message in my pocket.

Comment by Retired Educator Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 9:55 am
“Both men are listed as Democrats.”

Republican challenge for JB to “weigh in” in 5..4..3..2

Comment by a drop in Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 10:14 am
Illinois doesn’t have Alford pleas. The judge should have made him plea guilty or not guilty like everyone else in the state does.

Comment by Ferris Bueller Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 12:07 pm
Yep, this is one of those hysterical head-scratchers. People elsewhere might cheer on his harassment of an illegal immigrant, but not in deep blue Rock Island county.

There’s been a good deal of bemused head shaking and laughter, and a few crude jokes about voters getting the chance to harass Boyd.

Yeah, he might squeeze out some votes from the troglodytes who live everywhere, but this will be an exercise in further humiliation for Boyd.

Comment by RIJ Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 1:13 pm
== - Ferris Bueller - Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 12:07 pm: Illinois doesn’t have Alford pleas. The judge should have made him plea guilty or not guilty like everyone else in the state does. ==

Yes, we do. The practical differences between an Alford plea and guilty plea in IL are negligible, though.

Comment by Downstate43 Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 3:47 pm
Boyd has no chance whatsoever. People detest what he did and detest him for doing it.

Bustos will be tough to beat even by a good candidate, which Boyd is not. Bustos was exactly what the county needed, has done a workmanlike job and has no bad press. He also has not sought out the spotlight like Boyd and the previous sheriff. People have not forgotten that. No negatives.

Comment by Freezeup Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 4:39 pm
And I agree that the States Attorney should have settled for nothing less than a guilty plea or a conviction.

Comment by Freezeup Wednesday, Nov 29, 17 @ 4:41 pm