Bond Lowered For Former Schaumburg Cops Charged In Drug Case
WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) -- A DuPage County judge has significantly reduced the bail for three former Schaumburg police officers accused of stealing drugs from dealers and reselling them through an informant.
John Cichy, 30, Matthew Hudak, 29, and Terrance O'Brien, 46, all had been ordered held on $750,000 cash bail after their arrests two weeks ago, meaning had to post the full $750,000 to be released from custody. All three have been charged with drug conspiracy, armed violence, burglary, theft, and official misconduct.
On Thursday, a DuPage County judge reduced Cichy's bail to a $250,000 bond; O'Brien's to a $300,000 bond; and Hudak's to a $350,000 bond. For the newer bail amounts, all three would have to post 10 percent to be released – or $25,000 for Cichy, $30,000 for O'Brien and $35,000 for Hudak.
Cichy openly wept at the prospect of getting out of jail, CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports.
Lower Bond For Ex-Cops
A prosecutor emphasized the corruption at the heart of the defendants' alleged crimes.
"These individuals held a position of trust, and they betrayed that trust. They had the duty to enforce the law, not to be ongoing violators of the law," DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Audrey Anderson told the judge.
If they post bond, the ex-officers will be placed on GPS monitors, and will not be allowed to leave the state. They also must surrender their passports.
Cichy's sefense attorney, Jay Fuller, argued the previous bond was excessive, given the charges. He said his client is not a flight risk, and hasn't been out of the state since he was 10 years old.
"I kind of had to snicker at it, but I had to bring forth the fact that he's afraid to fly. He's actually afraid of water, too, to be quite honest with you. So I don't know where he's going to go," Fuller said.
All three men resigned from the Schaumburg Police Department after their arrests. They had been tactical officers and members of a special investigation unit. While working undercover, they allegedly stole drugs from dealers and had them resold for them through an informant. The drugs were supposed to be kept as evidence for trial.
Prosecutors said the informant turned on the officers when he was arrested in Carol Stream on an another charge earlier this month.
O'Brien, who is married with four children, also was allegedly leading a double life – fathering a son with his girlfriend, 44-year-old Nicole Brehm, who has been charged with holding some of the drugs for the officers.
If convicted, the three face a minimum of 24 years in prison each. Their cars and bank accounts have been confiscated, as well as their passports.
