ILL-inois: Downstate judges-and-drugs scandal spreads

While Cook County's tawdry reputation for corruption and crime committed by its so-called public servants is well-deserved, on a per-capital basis, St. Clair County is probably worse. A drug scandal involving judges has hit the downstate county, which is across the Mississippi from St. Louis.

Here is the latest twist from the Belleville News-Democrat:

The daughter of a former St. Clair County judge was a co-defendant in a drug case against a man who federal prosecutors say provided heroin to another county judge, Michael Cook.

Katherine C. O'Malley, 33, of Belleville, the daughter of retired Circuit Judge Michael O'Malley, is listed as a co-defendant in the 2011 case of Sean McGilvery of Belleville, who was charged with possessing crack cocaine.

Cook, a longtime friend of McGilvery's, ordered McGilvery to complete a drug treatment class, then dismissed the case.

O'Malley's case has been expunged and is no longer listed in the circuit clerk's records, but her attorney, Greg Skinner, said she was ordered to complete drug school, then Circuit Judge John Baricevic dismissed the case on May 23, 2012. It was the same punishment as McGilvery received.

Here's the background, from the St. Louis American:

When newly sworn in St. Clair County (IL) Associate Judge Joseph Christ dropped dead at a Pike County hunting lodge cabin back on March 10, authorities first assumed that it was from a massive heart attack.

However, autopsy and toxicology results have revealed that he died from "cocaine intoxication: with drugs found under his body and paraphernalia discovered in the cabin.

The hunting lodge was owned by the parents of Judge Michael Cook, who found Christ's body and alerted police of his buddy’s demise.

And a probation officer was involved. From KDSK:

A St. Clair County probation officer is facing federal charges connected with the death of one judge and the arrest of another.

Officer James Fogarty is used to handling people once shackled, but was shackled himself inside a federal courthouse Tuesday for his initial court appearance.

Fogarty, who's being represented by the Kuehn Law Firm, waived his right to a preliminary hearing today and remains in federal custody awaiting a bond and detention hearing, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.

Fogarty is accused of selling cocaine to Judge Mike Cook and Circuit Judge Joe Christ who died of a cocaine overdose in March at Cook's hunting cabin in Pike County.

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