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McHenry County State's Attorney In More Trouble

WOODSTOCK, Ill. (WBBM/CBS) -- New charges have been lodged against McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi.

Special prosecutors have charged Bianchi and his chief investigator, Ronald Salgado, with arranging deals to reduce criminal penalties for relatives and campaign donors.

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The new charges allege Bianchi in August, 2010 reduced a five-year sentence to four against Salgado's nephew, who was accused of dealing drugs outside an unnamed Crystal Lake high school.

Bianchi also is accused of meddling in a disorderly conduct case against a defendant who he knew and had contributed to Bianchi's campaign.

Bianchi and his personal secretary, Joyce Synek, had earlier pleaded not guilty to misconduct and corruption charges. He is accused of meddling in a disorderly conduct case against a defendant who he knew and had contributed to his campaign.

Bianchi's attorney, Terry Ekl, calls the new allegations "malicious" and a "very expensive witch hunt."

Salgado's attorney was unavailable for comment.

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