Friday, January 8, 2010

"Wogen accepts plea deal in battery case"

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2010/01/07/00431066/index.xml

Created: Thursday, January 7, 2010 3:09 p.m. CST
Updated: Thursday, January 7, 2010 6:21 p.m. CST

By CARRIE FRILLMAN – cfrillman@daily-chronicle.com

Wogen accepts plea deal in battery case

SYCAMORE – Former DeKalb Alderman Victor Wogen accepted a plea agreement Thursday that will keep him out of jail if he complies with his sentence.

Wogen was charged Aug. 16 with two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery after police said he shoved his wife during an argument, causing her to fall onto a couch.

Under Thursday's agreement, Wogen pleaded guilty to a single count of battery and received 18 months of court supervision. The first domestic battery count was dropped, and the second was amended to a simple battery, said Rachel McIntyre, an assistant state’s attorney for DeKalb County who prosecuted the case.

"I'm never happy to be in court," Wogen said Thursday when asked how he felt about the ruling. "And I don't want to have to admit to something I didn't do ... but now I can move on with my life."

Wogen also was ordered to pay a $200 domestic battery fee and $65 in court fees and to attend and complete an eight-week anger management program. As long as all the conditions of the plea agreement are met, Wogen's record will be free of a conviction, Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert said Thursday.

Stuckert added that Wogen is to have no violent contact with his wife. An order of protection for her was among the case's court documents Thursday. It is effective until Jan. 7, 2012, and takes into consideration that the couple may have some contact during divorce proceedings, which are currently underway.

Before Thursday's plea agreement, the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office filed a motion to introduce evidence of prior domestic violence acts, the most serious of which occurred five years ago, according to the motion. It states that Wogen "strangled the victim by placing both hands around her neck," and that he "abused the victim both verbally and emotionally."

Police were called to Wogen's home in August, when his wife reported that Wogen pushed her in the chest during an argument, according to authorities and court documents, causing her to lose her balance and fall back onto a couch. His wife did not suffer any serious injuries, according to authorities.

Wogen denied all allegations Thursday after the court proceedings.

Although the case happened within the jurisdiction of DeKalb Police, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said in August that he requested the sheriff's department handle the investigation so there was no conflict of interest.

Wogen was elected as the 3rd Ward representative to the DeKalb City Council in April 2007. On Dec. 14, Wogen announced his resignation as 3rd Ward alderman, citing personal reasons for stepping down. DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen said this week he hopes to appoint Wogen's replacement this month.

Copyright © 2010 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too bad he couldn't have just accepted responsibility for his actions.

Anonymous said...

Now maybe he can move on with his life and get a job with the Bolingbrook Police. They seem to hire wife abusers.

Anonymous said...

Are you going to post about his DUI.