Tow operator says he bought Lake County Sheriff Buncich tickets for enjoyment, not for favor
POST-TRIBUNE NEWS
August 16, 2017
chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-buncich-trial-day-8-st-0817-20170816-story.html
A St. John tow operator testified Wednesday that he never felt he had to buy fundraising tickets for Lake County Sheriff John Buncich but did it because he enjoyed the events.
During the eighth day of Buncich's public corruption trial, defense attorneys introduced three witnesses: a tow operator, a dispatcher and a character witness. The tow operator told the jury he never thought he had to buy campaign fundraiser tickets for the sheriff, and offered an explanation of how the county dispatches tow trucks.
The eighth day of the trial ended quickly, lasting barely three hours. Judge James Moody ended court early, dismissing the jury shortly before 11 a.m., saying he had a matter that would take the rest of the day.
Stephen "Chip" Lukasik, of Steve's Towing in St. John, said he bought fundraising tickets for Buncich's events but was never told he had to purchase them.
"I like to buy 10 tickets to treat my employees and friends," Lukasik said. "I actually look forward to it."
Buncich is charged with using his office to solicit bribes, often in the form of campaign donations, from tow truck operators and based on those contributions gave and took away tow jobs. The sheriff has maintained his innocence since he was indicted in November 2016.
Former Lake County Chief of Police Timothy Downs, who pleaded guilty to corruption charges in December, testified last week he felt he needed to sell the fundraising tickets to keep his job. Two tow operators — William Szarmach, of C.S.A. Towing in Lake Station, and Scott Jurgensen, of Samson's Towing in Merrillville — said they bought tickets to get more towing work from the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Last month, Szarmach pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and wire fraud after being charged alongside Buncich. Jurgensen, who was cooperating with the FBI, recorded a series of meetings among himself, Szarmach, Downs and Buncich.
Lukasik said Downs usually came with the fundraising tickets and the sheriff never called or stopped by the show.
Defense attorney Larry Rogers asked if any threat of being removed from the tow list was ever made if Lukasik didn't buy the tickets.
"No," Lukasik said.
Lukasik said if he ever had trouble with towing operations, he'd likely call either the chief or assistant chief.
"There was nobody designated to me," Lukasik said.
During cross examination, Benson asked if Lukasik paid for the tickets with cash or check, and the tow operator said check.
"Because you want a trail," Lukasik said. "You want everything above board."
As prosecutors presented their case, an IRS agent testified that cash payments allegedly for fundraising tickets were never reported on the sheriff's campaign finance reports.
Jurors also heard a description of how Lake County dispatched tow operators both when that function was under the Sheriff's Department and later when the consolidated E911 system was introduced.
Mary Eaton, a dispatcher with Lake County E911 who was formerly a radio operator for the Sheriff's Department before the consolidated system started, said when a call comes into dispatch, a report is put into the system and what tow operator to call is generated based on the set rotation and location.
Eaton said, during cross examination, she wasn't sure who programmed the tow boundaries into the dispatch system.
Benson said when Lake County officers enforced ordinances in Gary, they tell dispatchers what tow operator to call.
"Correct," Eaton said.
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