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Arson damages describe* I during Tezak trialAPC News ServiceBLOOMINGTON — Two fireofficials, a neighboring business owner and an insurance adjuster detailed the damage caused by a 1987 fire at a downtown Joliet building in courtroom testimony Tuesday in the trial of former Will County political heavyweight Robert Tezak.The arson trial is the second that Tezak, the former Will County coroner, has faced.Tezak began serving in 1993 a 12-year federal sentence for a 1987 arson after he pleaded guilty in federal court to burning a Crest Hill bowling alley he owned in an arson-for-profit scheme.In that plea agreement, Tezak also admitted that he paid a man $7,000 to set fire to a downtown building he owned, which housed the administrative offices of the Will County Private Industry Council.Federal authorities never tried Tezak for that fire, which occurred Dec. 4, 1987. But state prosecutors decided to pursue the charges, claiming that Tezak wanted the building torched to destroy 20 boxes of council records subpoenaed by the Internal Revenue Service.Prosecutors say Tezak, the coroner from 1976 to 1988, used his clout with the Private Industry Council to steer federal grants and contracts to cronies.On Tuesday, former Illinois State Fire Marshal Jim Hollenbeck testified his investigation of the building fire determined that an accelerant — fuel oil — was used to ignite the blaze.He said the building was quickly consumed because separatefires were started on each floor.Joliet Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Drick also testified Tuesday about the tricky and dangerous conditions firefighters faced in battling the fire at the council building,225-227 N. Chicago St.The building was totally consumed within 15 minutes of firefighters’ arrival at the scene, and firefighters had to climb onto nearby roofs because embers threatened to ignite other fires, Drick said.Joseph Turk, owner of Turk Furniture, who had a warehouse adjacent to the building, later testified smoke from the fire destroyed more than $700,000 worth of furniture.Turk, the former owner of the council building, testified he sold the structure to a land trust for $85,000. Another witness from a Joliet bank testified Tezak was the beneficiary of that trust.Standard Mutual Insurance executive William M. Gibbons then testified the insurance company paid Tezak $232,680 on the policy he held on the building.As part of his plea agreement on the federal charges, Tezak wasordered to repay the insurance firm.But prosecutors, who cannot bring up Tezak’s previous convictions in the current trial, said outside the courtroom Tezak has not reimbursed the insurance company.During opening arguments Monday, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow told the jury that Tezak asked a friend, Stephen Kezerle, to torch the building to destroy PIC records that had been subpoenaed by federal agents.The prosecution case consists largely of two documents — the transcript of an October 1993 federal court hearing at which Tezak pleaded guilty to the other arson fire and Kezerle’s sworn statement in pleading guilty in June to setting the PIC building fire at Tezak’s direction.Glasgow said he hoped to win additional prison time for Tezak, possibly as much as seven more years, and to gain restitution for businesses that suffered losses from the fire.Although jurors won’t be told of Tezak’s involvement in the bowling alley arson, Will County Circuit Court Associate Judge Edwin Grabiec ruled Monday that Glasgow could introduce an edited version of the confession that will be read by a court reporter.Defense attorney Douglas Roller tried to bar Glasgow from using Tezak’s confession, arguing that Illinois law forbids prosecutors from using admissions made through a plea bargain agreement.In his opening statement, Roller told the jury that Tezak, was targeted for selective prosecution because he was “outspoken and active in politics, which somehow made him controversial.”THE STARPark Forest (USPS 421820)Published every Thursday and Sunday by Star Publications at 1526 Otto Boulevard, P.O. Box 157, Chica go Heights, Illinois, 60411.Telephone 755-6161.Norman A. Rosinski, President and PublisherJames S. Meidell, Senior Vice President andGeneral ManagerLester G. Sons, Vice President Executive EditorAn American Publishing Co. Newspaper50 cents per tingle copyAudit Bureau of CirculationsSUBSCRIPTION RATESHome delivery by Star carrier — $3.60 per month, $43.20 per year.U.S. Mail delivery, Local trade zone and where Star carrier delivery is available, $43 20 per year payable in advance.U.S.P.S Zones — rates available on requestSECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60411Postmaster: Send address changes to either post office box or publication address shown above.Vegetable Flats • BeStarting at *9.25/flatHanging BasketsStarting at ‘10.99capAnnuals, Perennials Much, Much More! ■ BULTEMA PRODUCE946-9530Just North of Goodenow Corner, Beecher, IIHours: Mon-Sat: 10am to 6pm
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Crete Star
Crete, Illinois, US
Thu, May 16, 1996
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