Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 127

Chicago Tribune, Thursday, January 18, 2001 Section 2 3 WESTERN SUBURBS Hyde challenger sues DuFageJ over pamphlet touting board FBI seeks suspect in a rash of bank heists not registered to vote of the information in the pamphlet. Christensen contends that the civil rights of Mansfield and others were violated "insofar as DuPage County's dissemination of the publication created a classification wholly irrelevant to the achievement of a valid state objective." County spokeswoman Rena Mack, who oversaw the printing of the pamphlet, called the suit "an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars." "This is going to cost thousands of taxpayer dollars to defend this case, and we feel Mr. Christensen is abusing the legal system for his own political purposes," she said. But Christensen said the county was the one wasting money because it had spent public funds for political reasons. "The purpose of this communication was to provide some publicly funded campaign material for incumbents," Christensen said.

"Each version included pictures and a little blurb on those incumbent board members from that district." Mack said the pamphlet cost taxpayers about $60,000 in printing, postage and design work. Titled "DuPage Today: Preserving Our Quality of Life," the four-page missive was the first edition of the newsletter. It was mailed on or around Oct. lO.Its headlines promoted county government with stories about property tax decreases and projects to reduce transportation and flooding problems. On the back page, it reminded voters, "Don't forget to vote," next to a list of incumbent County Board members, all Republicans.

Ironically, the voting resulted in the first Democrat being elected to the County Board in nearly 20 years. Election law prohibits the use of public funds to advocate the elec- tion of an individual or espouse a position on a referendum measure. But Christensen acknowledged that he would have had difficulty arguing the case on those grounds because the pamphlet does not spe- I cifically tell voters whom to sup- port. The mailing was not sent to every household in DuPage County but only to those with registered voters because the county wanted to let people know about projects specific I to where they live, Mack said. Such a mailing list, she said, could only be obtained from a mailing house that collects names and addresses of registered voters.

An Oakbrook Terrace-based afJ torney, Christensen has been keep j. ing his name alive in DuPage polljt tics since he got 41 percent of tlre vote against Hyde. He has been working as a noiJ2 paid assistant to Linda Bourke Hij-j; bert, the sole Democrat elected ih'I November to the County Board. is often seen at Hilbert's side dur ing board meetings, even advising her how to vote. Mack said the county plans to is-j sue a second pamphlet to registered voters in the spring.

"We believe we acted properly when we set out to do this, and we maintain that," she said. "We'll It; probably do it again." By William Presecky and John Chase Tribune Staff Writers Acting on behalf of a Lombard man, former Democratic congressional candidate Brent Christensen filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Wednesday charging DuPage County with using public funds last year to politic on behalf of its Republican office holders. Christensen, who mounted a spirited but unsuccessful campaign last year to oust U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde alleges that the county violated the Consti Christensen tution's equal protection clause when it sent a customized newsletter in early October only to DuPage households with at least one registered voter.

The newsletter touted the accomplishments of a then all-Republican County Board. It was tailored for residents in each of the county's six political districts to showcase the incumbent Republicans running in the November election, Christensen said. He filed the lawsuit on behalf of Lombard homeowner Richard Mansfield, who did not receive the newsletter because he was not registered to vote and does not live with anyone who is. The suit alleges that the county broke the law by depriving Mansfield and other residents who had Killer pleads By Art Barnum Tribune Staff Writer Convicted killer Rene Soto asked for mercy Wednesday as prosecutors asked that he be sentenced to death for a 1998 double murder in Elmhurst. After apologizing to the victims' families and acknowledging that he should have heeded warnings about gang involvement, Soto, 20, of Bellwood admitted he played a role in the crime.

"But I didn't pull the trigger," he insisted. Soto was convicted last month of killing Ricky Sanchez, a west Cook County gang member, and Alfredo Garcia, an out-of-town guest who was in the car with Sanchez. An accomplice, Raul Ceja, has been sentenced to death for the crime by DuPage Judge Kathryn COMMUNITY BRIEFING LOMBARD Woman at spa accused of prostitution A 46-year-old Hawaii woman has been charged with prostitution after allegedly offering to perform a sex act on an undercover DuPage County sheriffs detective who posed as a customer at an area massage parlor. Police said Young J. Doss was arrested Tuesday at Spa 38 at 890 E.

Roosevelt Rd. near Lombard. Doss' was the 27th prostitution arrest sheriffs detectives have made at massage businesses in unincorporated DuPage County, officials said. Young was released from the DuPage County Jail after posting 10 percent of her $1,000 bond. She is due back in court in DuPage County next month.

Jeff Coen MONTGOMERY Mage moves to stop Oswego agreement The Village Board on Tuesday voted to declare "null and void" a proposed boundary agreement with Oswego if officials in Oswego make changes to the document. When Montgomery officials on Dec. 18 approved the agreement, they expected their Oswego counterparts to also approve it that same night. "We did our part," said Montgomery Trustee William Keck. "They did not do theirs." Last week, Oswego Village President Craig Weber said a vote by his board on the agreement would come later this month, at the earliest.

He expressed concerns about the proposal and said he planned to meet with leaders of other local taxing bodies to discuss the agreement. HalDardick WEST CHICAGO Parking lot eases crowding at Metra stop The parking crunch at the West Chicago train station has eased with this week's opening of a second parking lot. The situation will be relieved further with plans moving along for a third lot in 2002. The second commuter lot, just east of the original 193-space parking lot, provides 170 more spaces of daily parking at a rate of $1 per day. The original commuter parking lot has now changed to permit parking only, with all the spaces currently being sold out.

Officials hope to build a third commuter parking lot in a 1-acre area along 465-500 Main St. With an estimated total price of $1.68 million, the project will add 133 parking spaces, according acting city administrator Michael Guttman. West Chicago recently entered into an agreement with Metra and has received grants to help with project costs. "There simply aren't enough parking spaces," said Guttman. "Even the people with parking permits can't find a space, and they should be able to." Gary Gibula BENSENVILLE Cleanup deals with gas stations OKd The Village Board on Tuesday approved agreements with Amoco and Clark gasoline distributors that requires those companies to clean up soil in public rights of way that is contaminated by seepage from the Amoco station at 157 S.

York Rd. and the Clark station at 600 N. Illinois Highway 83. In return, village officials agreed to ban the use of groundwater flowing beneath those gasoline stations for drinking or any other domestic purpose, enabling Clark and Amoco to put off the cleanups until such time as the contaminated soil endangers human health or the environment. Gasoline spills have seeped from the gas stations into village-owned land at both locations, said Public Works Director Paul Quinn.

The contamination poses no threat to passers-by now, but it could if street repairs or new construction exposes the soil. When that happens, the agreements allow the village to either require the oil companies to perform the cleanup or to do the work and bill the companies afterward. The agreements put a limit of $20,000 for each cleanup, but that limit will be adjusted to reflect the consumer price index every five years. DeniseLinke BARTLETT Facade rebate program to be expanded The Village Board has approved a raise in the TIF district facade rebate program from a maximum of $15,000 per property to $30,000. Other aspects of the revised amendment include allowing tenants to apply for grants with the property owner's permission and making the program retroactive to previous recipients of the maximum grant award.

The rebate program is good for up to 30 percent of the construction costs, with maximum pay out of $30,000. Grants may be applied for every three years. David Sharos CAROL STREAM Village to explore Internet initiatives The village is taking steps toward increasing the use of technology to provide more services to residents via their personal computers. The village has joined the Innovation Groups, a national non-profit organization that promotes what is termed e-government initiatives. The village also will take part in the group's forum scheduled for March 1 and 2 in Naperville.

Annemarie Mannion for mercy in sentencing By Jeff Coen Tribunb Staff Writer Police have released a computer-produced image of a man whom investigators suspect of robbing or trying to rob seven banks in the Chicago area since Christmas, including a Mid-America Bank branch in Wheaton's Danada area this week. Dubbed the "Paperwork Bandit" by the FBI because he has been known to shuffle through a bundle of papers before demanding cash from startled tellers, investigators said the man is a big factor in keeping the Chicago area on pace with last year's 113 bank robberies. By Wednesday, the FBI said he was the likely suspect in 6 of the 10 bank robberies committed in the area so far in January and one in December. "We believe he is responsible for seven of these in the past three weeks," said FBI spokeswoman Mary Lynn Muha. "That is definitely a very active bank robber." Police said the man's first target was a Harris Bank branch in Aurora robbed Dec.

27. Since then, the FBI suspects he has robbed or attempted robberies at banks in Melrose Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Lisle, Wheeling, Schaumburg and Whea-ton. Federal officials said the suspect is an African-American man between 5 feet 10 and 6 feet tall. He weighs between 150 and 170 pounds and has short hair. Police in Du-Page County said the bandit has been observed wearing wraparound sunglasses with silver rims and a mid-length coat.

FBI officials said the image of the suspect is based on bank surveillance videos obtained by investigators. The suspect's getaway car is described by police as an older model, dark blue or black Chrysler sedan with a "license applied for" tag in the rear window. Wheaton police said one of the department's investigators has been assigned to work the case with the FBI. The robber entered the Dana-da area bank branch at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

"His method at this point is no secret," said Wheaton Police Cmdr. Terry Mee. "After shuffling through some papers, he made a demand for money in particular denominations." The man fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. In the northwest suburbs, police said the suspect is believed to have robbed banks in Schaumburg and Wheeling within a span of 40 minutes Jan. 9.

Investigators in Oakbrook race said the man is suspected in an attempted bank robbery at a Northern Trust Bank branch Jan. 5. "He walked up, asked the teller to open the cash drawer and said, 'Don't hit the alarm button, Police Chief Mark Collins said. "After the drawer was open, he just said, 'You hit the and he ran out." Collins said police are confident the robber will make a mistake and be caught. He recalled the capture of a serial bank robber in Oakbrook Terrace a few years ago after the man held up a bank branch while a police officer was waiting in a drive-through lane in his squad car.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the FBI's offices in Chicago at 312-431-1333 or the local police department. 6ol5 Creswell, who is also presiding over Soto's sentencing. Another accomplice has not been identified, although Elmhurst police have said they believe he will be arrested at some point. Assistant States' Atty. Paul Mar-chese said that "this murder was fun for Soto, and he is a public risk.

Two young men were sent to their graves to send a rival gang a message. This was a cold-blooded gang hit, by someone who never held a job other than selling drugs and gangbanging." Soto's attorney, Paul DeLuca, also asked for mercy, saying Soto was raised by a mother unable to handle him and an abusive stepfather, "and the gang became his family." DeLuca also claimed that Soto was "a follower in the gang, not a leader" and he laid the blame for planning the double murder on Ce- ja, an older and more experienced gang member. 2: Different guns held by the three 2., assailants shot the two victims, with the police never being able to prove which defendant held the gun that fired the fatal shots. Z' "Your honor, to send a man to his death, you really have to be cer-I tain," said DeLuca. Creswell said she would review the sentencing over the weekend and announced her decision Tues- Ji day.

Illinois law gives a judge only two options for a defendant convict ed of double murder: life in prison or the death sentence. Assistant States Atty. David Bayer argued against the life sen- it tence, saying, "prison would bej; great for Soto. He could hang out there with his gang." APY! Stop by and check out our other great offers while you get yourself onft nf nur unhentarilfi CDs. You Financing 'til 2003! NO payments for 24 SALE PRICED Grands! Uprights! Studios! Digitals! Disk Players! New Used! BALDWIN CHICKERING SCHIMMEL WURLITZER ROLAND PIANO DISC QRS Used STEINWAY, YAMAHA KAWAI on a 12-month Certificate of Deposit.

cm caU (800) 536.3000 t0 6sf. jfV jV- Pen a CD right over the phone, or 0-r hJAjl I online. Where could you hope to on a 6-month Certificate of Deposit, find a better deal? mhmm -9PM OPEN to the PUBLIC: Friday 1-9 Saturday 10 -6 Sunday 11 -6 SAVE J500 INSTANTLY! Visit www.pianoshow.com mimmmM Your friendly, billion-dollar bank. 800-536-3000, www.obb.com Now also open at Dearborn and Huron in Gliicago. Oak Brook 14(10 Simwnih St.

Oak Brook IL Aililiran 777 Arm Trail Rd. 22 Aikliann 1L Aurora Brnwnville Broadview Indian Trail Rd. 1050 Busse Hwy. 1.VJ0 Ronwrell RJ. Aurora IL Bennenville IL Broadview IL I CD tl 3 Hit St.

9Srd PI. HINSDALE 9300 South Route 83 SOMERSET TLAZA Rt. 83 (Kingery 1 Iwy.) 93rd rince Next to McDonalds Behind Citizen's Financial Urn Ellyn Glrnvlrw LiGrane lide NaperviB 487 Pennsylvania 22(10 N. Wiiikcgun 326 Burling Ave. 6444 S.

Gilli-p Ril. 3H0 W. Diehl Ril. Clen Ellyn IL Glenview IL LaGrana IL Link IL Nirville IL Burr Bklfie aiOOS. Madison Burr Ridge IL WarrenvlIIe 28WS71 Butavia Warrenville IL rfcaW Wnintsiinyt Clikago 33 Huron Drarlmm ami Huron Chiiago IL 0l Rrmk Rink only tml if iih)frl In rhancr.

pmallv Inrnrly ilMriil. A nn.nl PnMilntr YiM MI'Yl i unntr i Januan IB. 2001 Rale axilililr (nf mum not rummllv nn iK-pnail with IIO.IIIO minimum tnntiiiin AI'V hmn. Mximum ilrnmit nf IKIMW). (HIntiliil lorpnMnal arrmnu only.

tabalanlial 2IDI Oak Bn Rank M-inlm HHC. Hc.mi Lmltr, No prior sales. Supplies limilrd. Subject to prior sale. Interest armies from date of ptirrhaie.

If not paid twApWiKl credit only 10 down. Not valid wany other ofler. Musi be paid in full at end of 24moi. in full at end of 24 interest added to loan ami, See us for details, "evlusivf piano house ranking..