Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of computer tampering in Will County Court.
Traynere, a Bolingbrook Democrat and the past Democratic Leader, was charged last month with three counts of computer tampering, a class B misdemeanor, for allegedly accessing the email of fellow board member Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican and the former board chair, in March 2024.
The case was up Tuesday before Judge Don DeWilkins, who recused himself because he is friends with Ogalla. Judge Colette Safford also recused herself before the case was sent to Judge Derek Ewanic for a brief hearing.
The case was continued to Oct. 21.
Traynere’s attorney, Colin “CJ” Haney, said in a news release they will mount a vigorous defense and expect a favorable outcome.
The misdemeanor charges, filed by special prosecutor William Elward, state Traynere forwarded emails from Ogalla’s account to herself and others. Elward denied comment Tuesday.
Will County Board Republicans held a news conference
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in July 2024 where they asked for accountability and an investigation into the alleged computer tampering.Traynere has said she uncovered security problems with the county’s computers.
Haney said in the news release the preliminary investigation indicated each county commissioner was provided the same password for their county email accounts.
“Upon learning this, Commissioner Traynere immediately notified the (information technology) department of this significant security issue and requested that new passwords be issued,” Haney said. “Clearly this would constitute a violation of standard computer security protocols that should be in place, even in small, locally owned businesses, let alone in the third largest county in the state.”
Haney said they are also investigating whether the former County Board leadership was aware of the security issue and chose not to require any corrective actions.
Traynere is represented by the Tomczak Law Group of Joliet.
Elward has also refiled a traffic case from earlier this year that alleges Traynere failed to yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway in March. The original traffic case was dismissed in May after a complaining witness did not show up to court, records show.
Traynere’s car hit a child riding a bike near Lily Cache and Lindsey lanes, according to a Bolingbrook police report. The child fell off the bike and was uninjured. The Western Will County Communications Center told police it received a report where the driver left the scene. Traynere had driven to the police station when officers arrived at the accident scene, the report said.
Traynere is the chair of the Will County Board’s Public Works and Transportation Committee. She has been a board member since 2008 and was the Democratic Leader from 2022 to 2024.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.