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* Some background is here if you need it. From a press release…
Lake County State’s Attorney, Michael G. Nerheim announced that in late July of last year, he was contacted by the Illinois Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter regarding the possible criminal activities of then Illinois State Representative Nick Sauer. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Division and Cyber Division immediately began an investigation.
This morning, a Lake County Grand Jury issued a twelve count Indictment for Mr. Sauer for the offense of Non-consensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images involving 2 separate victims. As charged, these are all Class 4 felonies.
Our office has been in communication with Mr. Sauer’s attorney and we expect him to surrender himself on these charges by tomorrow morning. We would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts and assistance provided by Illinois Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter, the Chicago Police Department, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
State’s Attorney Nerheim would like to remind the public that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The statute he is alleged to have violated is here.
I’m working on getting a copy of the indictment. I’ll post it when/if I get it.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:39 pm
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That is a LOT of felonies.
Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:48 pm
2 victims? I thought he was only distributing pics of his (ex)girlfriend to catfish men. I kinda wonder who else he sent pics of. I also kinda DON’T wanna know.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:48 pm
He’s innocent until proven guilty, but he’s got a lot of explaining to do.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:50 pm
Ugh, he is no longer a Member of the General Assembly. He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone. There is plenty of criminal and unethical activity by current politicians for us to focus on instead.
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:54 pm
Looks like they found another victim during the investigation. Good luck defending that. They wouldn’t indict unless they had the goods. Whether he’s convicted or pleads out, this seems worthy of time behind bars rather than a slap on the wrist for a first offense.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:54 pm
Still think about this story frequently. Hope he gets what he deserves.
Comment by WSJ Paywall Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:58 pm
===He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone===
Why? We didn’t “leave Rod alone.”
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:58 pm
2 victims?
That seems to make it (if possible) even creepier.
Comment by titan Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:59 pm
” He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone.”
Run that by the victims.
“C’mon ladies, let bygones be bygones.”
Comment by AlfondoGonz Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:04 pm
Rich, not sure you’re comparing apples to apples there. Rod’s crimes were public corruption, and he was in front of the news cameras every day seeking attention. Sauer is now a private citizen, let’s let him be that.
(This isn’t to say I’m excusing his behavior, I just don’t think it is worthy of our attention any more than any other private citizen.)
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:10 pm
Hastert was out of office, and that got plenty of coverage. You seem a little personally invested in protecting this fellow.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:14 pm
==Sauer is now a private citizen,==
The crimes he’s charged with allege he criminally violated others’ privacy. No mercy.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:15 pm
—He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone—
As he allegedly committed these crimes against at least one victim during his time in office, seems relevant. And, I dunno, extremely shocking and unsettling, generally, as well as in the context of addressing inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment in the GA.
I know I shouldn’t be shocked there’s a second alleged victim, but so many heebie jeebies. Thank god he was dumb enough to get caught.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:15 pm
–He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone.–
Hastert, too? He was no longer in public office. Should he have been “left alone?”
Jerry Sandusky was retired; should he have gotten a pass, too?
The reporting of grand jury indictments are the least of Sauer’s problems.
And you’ve got a strange idea as to what is newsworthy.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:16 pm
No. His actions were undertaken while he was serving his term. Its relevant. And it was enough of a reason for him to resign. This deserves coverage if for no other reason than that. Add in the “Me Too” stuff that came along around the same time or shortly after…
Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:17 pm
well, I guess his girlfriend certainly got even with him.
Comment by jim Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:22 pm
” He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone.”
I’ve never been in government, does that mean I get to go pillage my neighborhood later?
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:26 pm
And lest we forget, Gov. Rauner even blamed this creep’s actions on Madigan, and his “culture of abuse”.
Comment by JT11505 Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:28 pm
Where is 1.4% and his bleating about corruption?
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:30 pm
Bad news for Mr. Sauer and certainly nothing good here for any faction of his party. Hopefully a full and fair pursuit of justice that will bring some measure of solace to the victims of these criminal and moral violations.
Comment by Midstate Indy Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:42 pm
- “Let’s leave him alone.” -
No. Nick Sauer is not a victim and this was not a victimless crime. Revenge Porn is a very serious crime that has life long negative effects on those who are preyed upon. May justice be served here.
Comment by Kyle Hillman Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:50 pm
=== He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone. ===
No one’s forcing you to be here, dude.
Comment by Moby Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:52 pm
-”well, I guess his girlfriend certainly got even with him.”-
You can never get something completely removed from the Internet. If the reports are true, there are 2 victims. It’s hard to imagine that anybody will think that a criminal prosecution in this instance “evens things out.” We’ll have to wait and see what the evidence shows but there are two victims that will never be made whole.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 1:59 pm
I think some folks are twisting the point Just Me 2 is trying to make. He/she isn’t saying that Sauer shouldn’t be prosecuted. He/she is questioning whether or not the story should be newsworthy. I believe it is relevant and should be covered.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 2:00 pm
“He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone.”
You could argue the story is less important now that he’s resigned, and maybe not worth Rich’s time, but saying/implying it’s not fair to Sauer to talk about it is just bizarre.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 2:00 pm
His resignation letter alone justifies continuing to be dragged like this. He gets caught and then blames one of the victims. Odds are this gets pled down, but hopefully he gets stuck with a felony and it doesn’t get pled down to some misdemeanor charge.
Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 2:17 pm
Open season on women is officially over.
Comment by Lake County Mom Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 2:23 pm
==- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 12:54 pm:==
Maybe try talking to some victims of cyberstalking or revenge porn. Then grow a brain–and some empathy.
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 2:33 pm
Last April a Texas Appeals Court found a similar law violated the First Amendment. Could be a long fight if Mr. Sauer wants that.
Comment by AiH Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 2:45 pm
I’m going to assume that Sauer will plead out in order to avoid having his Facebook conversations with men, while posing as his victims, made public.
Comment by Lake County Mom Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 3:12 pm
–He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone.–
I was threatened with revenge porn after being unknowingly recorded (although that turned out to be a lie–I think), and I think many more cases should be publicized. I had no idea what to do, where to turn, what my rights were, etc. And let me tell you, it is not fun to try to figure out how to tell your boss and HR that there might be VERY private pictures/video of you sent to them soon. I am very thankful that this falls under the domestic violence/sexual assault policy at my company, but it’s certainly not explicitly written in there.
I think it is especially important to know that there are not exceptions to revenge porn laws, even for lawmakers. And that the consequences go beyond losing your job and falling out of the public eye. So I completely disagree that this is better left alone.
Comment by Labotts Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 4:14 pm
I hope justice is served and the victims are made whole.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jan 9, 19 @ 5:02 pm
There are surely lots of questions about this that need to be answered but i hope he gets judged on what was done not what position he held.
Comment by theCardinal Thursday, Jan 10, 19 @ 1:37 am
===He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone===
The Sauer’s were, if nothing else, pious and self-righteous people. As to Nick’s public disgrace, it’s not like it can be said it’s sad when bad things happen to good people.
Comment by Samurai Thursday, Jan 10, 19 @ 11:12 am
====He left in disgrace, let’s leave him alone====
This is publicly available info so it is fair game.
Next time you are at a Sauer family reunion you can tell him how bad you feel for him. But that likely will be a while since I hope he spends some time in prison, this guy is a scumbag.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jan 10, 19 @ 2:47 pm