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The Star • Thursday, January 29, 1998s§a«Court upholds Tezak arson convictionAPC News ServiceWill County State’s Attorney James Glasgow left no doubt how he feels about the Illinois Appellate Court’s decision to uphold a 1996 conviction of former county coroner Robert Tezak.“This is an excellent decision,” said Glasgow, who personally prosecuted Tezak, a longtime Republican power in the county. “It clearly dismisses all six issues that were brought on appeal.”The Illinois Appellate Court Monday made its decision known in the arson-for-profit case, rejecting Tezak’s argument that he was tried unfairly and subjected■to double jeopardy.Tezak’s attorney, Douglas Roller of Chicago, said Monday he hadn’t read the decision and could not comment on whether he would appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.We’re obviously disappointed,” Roller said.A jury found Tezak guilty of conspiring to set fire in 1987 to the Will County Private Industry Council building, which he owned, to destroy records sought by federal investigators and to collect insurance money. The council was a conduit for federalIn 1993, Tezak began serving a 12Vfc-year sentence after pleading guilty in federal court in a separate arson scheme.In that case, Tezak admitted plotting to set fire in 1987 to a Crest Hill bowling alley he owned to collect a $1 millioninsurance payment.During the federal court proceedings, Tezak, 50, admitted hiring a friend to set the blaze at the Private Industry Council building in Joliet.Federal prosecutors did notcharge Tezak with that arson in exchange for his guilty plea in the bowling alley blaze.But that plea agreement did not bar Will County prosecutors from charging Tezak in the Jolietfire.Because federal prosecutors dropped charges related to the Joliet fire, Tezak was not a victim of double jeopardy, the Appellate Court ruled.The second conviction means that when Tezak completes the federal sentence he is serving inArizona, he will return to Illinois to serve a three-year state sentence. He also is still required to pay $900,000 in restitution.A former multimillionaire whoearned his fortune after buyingthe rights at age 23 to the then-obscure card game Uno, Tezak’s political reign unraveled in thelate 1980s.Elected as coroner in 1976,Tezak used his wealth to build political power and was a major power broker for more than a decade.job training dollars.TCTMTCC P?¥7\/TFWReader Ads In This SectionPrepared By Contract Advertising, Inc
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Frankfort Star
Frankfort, Illinois, US
Thu, Jan 29, 1998
Page 6
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