Former judge’s son gets prison in heroin case
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com November 8, 2012 3:44PM
Matthew A. Lechwar
Updated: December 10, 2012 6:24AM
The son of a former Will County judge and prosecutor is headed for prison after pleading guilty to a heroin charge Thursday.
Matthew A. Lechwar, 30, of Channahon pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver 14 grams of heroin.
Lechwar is the son of former Will County prosecutor, circuit court judge and chief judge Rodney Lechwar.
Judge Edward Burmila accepted a plea agreement that included an eight-year prison sentence, two years of parole and a recommendation that Lechwar be enrolled in the Department of Correction’s boot camp program.
If he enters boot camp, he could be released in 120 days.
Rodney Lechwar could not be reached for comment.
Matthew Lechwar was initially charged with possession of 15 to 100 grams of heroin, a Class X felony, when he was arrested March 30 by agents of the Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad.
On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Charles Colburn, who prosecuted the case, asked Burmila to change the indictment to a Class I felony, possession of 15 grams of heroin or less.
Lechwar would not have been eligible for boot camp if he pleaded guilty to a Class X felony.
In 2000, Lechwar charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in Kendall County. In 2003 he was charged with driving under the influence in Will County. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year of court supervision.
In 2004 he was charged with possession of a controlled substance in Grundy County.
In 2006, Lechwar pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to deliver in Will County and entered the county’s drug court program. He successfully finished the program and the charge was dismissed.
In 2010 he was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance in Cook County.
