Two former Lake County Sheriff’s Office corrections officers pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony charges of official misconduct in connection with the death of a Lake County Jail inmate on Halloween 2011.
Rodney Holmes and Robert Schlesser were arraigned in Lake County Circuit Court on Thursday after being indicted last month by a Lake County Grand Jury for official misconduct, a Class 3 felony. The indictments came as the result of an investigation by the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office.
Inmate Eugene Gruber’s death in the Lake County Jail led to an administrative audit of the incident, which resulted in three terminations and disciplinary actions taken against 10 corrections officers. Holmes and Schlesser were among the officers terminated, according to sheriff’s office officials.
Gruber, who was 51, died from a spinal cord injury suffered during a “take down” in a shower area after he was sprayed with pepper spray for allegedly fighting correctional officers trying to process him into the jail. The Grayslake man had been charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to property.
Gruber had complained of a back injury prior to being dragged through the jail to have his picture taken and to be fingerprinted, officials said.
The Appellate Prosecutor’s criminal violation review determined that criminal violations occurred, and presented the evidence to a Lake County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictments of the two men in October.
Both Holmes and Schlesser were released on $75,000 signature bonds following their arrest.
Class 3 felonies carry a sentencing range of two to five years in prison upon conviction, but also may result in a probationary sentence.