A status hearing Wednesday is expected to provide an answer as to whether the corruption case against former North Chicago police Chief Michael Newsome will go to trial Feb. 2 as currently scheduled.
Although both prosecutors and defense attorneys said last fall they hoped to see the trial completed by the end of 2014, a series of delays and pretrial motions continued to postpone the often-rescheduled trial date.
A hearing on final pretrial motions is scheduled for Wednesday morning before Judge James Booras.
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It’s been almost two years since Newsome pleaded not guilty to felony charges of theft of government property, official misconduct and misallocation of funds, which could bring a prison sentence of 30 years if convicted.
Newsome is accused of stealing more than $140,000 from the city’s drug asset forfeiture fund. He pleaded not guilty in February 2013 to the charges against him.
Prosecutors allege Newsome took the money in a series of transactions and used it for personal expenses including car payments, his children’s education and remodeling his home.
The money was discovered missing after Newsome resigned in 2012.
Investigators with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office spent about nine months looking into the allegations before the former chief was charged with theft.
Newsome was appointed as police chief in North Chicago in 2005, after 14 years with the department. He has remained free since being charged after posting 10 percent of a $25,000 bond.
From the Lake County News-Sun