Will County states' attorney files charges against Hanson's Roc, Lee VanGuilder

Glasgow files trespass, damage charges

by Carol Henrichs

Will County States Attorney James Glasgow has filed two charges against Rocquin VanGuilder and Rocquin L. VanGuider, also known as Lee, his son.

The first charge is criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor. The other is criminal trespass to real property, a Class B misdemeanor.

The criminal damage charge alleges that the defendants knowingly damaged property of Mark Baugh, being a farm field located at 2865 W. Eagle Lake Rd. in Beecher, without the Baugh’s consent.

The criminal trespass charge alleges that the defendants knowingly entered upon the land of Mark Baugh after receiving prior notice from the owner that such entry was forbidden, in violation of state statutes.

The defendants will be summoned to appear in court.

No date has yet been set.

The penalty for a Class A misdemeanor is a term in jail of less than a year, fines up to $2,500 and two years of probation or a conditional discharge.

The penalty for a Class B misdemeanor is a term in jail for six months, up to $1,500 in fines and up to two years of probation or a conditional discharge.

The alleged trespass and damage occurred Dec. 1, 2006.

Upon initial review, Glasgow decided not to prosecute the offenders. He did not believe he could meet the burden of proof.

But upon the urging of Will County Board Member John Anderson, Glasgow took a second look. He returned to the property a little over a month ago to get a sense of the lay of the land and to talk to potential witnesses, according to his spokesman Chuck Pelkie.

“Based on his personal observations, he directed his investigators to look into it further,” said Pelkie.

Pelkie said that a week or so after the visit, Glasgow became ill and laid up for the better part of three weeks with the flu. But upon returning, he decided to act.

“One thing he (Glasgow) noted was that IDOT has taxpayer-funded signs that clearly delineate property that belongs to the state,” Pelkie said. “They pay to have that area closely guarded and watched.”

“It is the States Attorneys’ position that individual property owners deserve the same rights,” Pelkie said.

Anderson said he is grateful that Glasgow accompanied him to Baugh’s property to take a first-hand look at the scene of the crime.

“The fact that the states’ attorney personally drove across the entire county at the crack of dawn on a snowy Saturday morning speaks volumes about his commitment to the people of this county, and specifically, people in eastern Will County.” Anderson said.

When speaking about VanGuilder, Anderson said, “This is not about someone who entered another person’s property by mistake or with good intentions.

“This is about someone who was fully aware that he was sending a huge machine across private property and without permission. And he did so with absolutely cavalier disregard for Mr. Baugh’s rights.”

Anderson said he applauded Glasgow for filing charges against the offenders.

“It is my hope that the charges will be sufficient to remind Hanson that it must operate within a framework of laws and standards of decency.”


Posted by ch at March 19, 2007
Categories: Hanson Professional Services, James Glasgow, South Suburban Airport

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