Channahon mayor will get publicly-paid attorney, working on plea deal
By Natasha Korecki Federal Courts Reporter nkorecki@suntimes.com September 7, 2011 11:16AM
Channahon Mayor Joe Cook
Updated: September 7, 2011 3:40PM
The Channahon Village President who’s accused of not paying his taxes won’t be paying for his own lawyer.
Joseph Cook was appointed a publicly-paid attorney in federal court on Wednesday, the same day prosecutors announced they were working out a plea deal with Cook.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow looked at Cook’s personal financial statements and deemed him qualified for a publicly-funded attorney. As village president, Cook makes about $16,000 a year, according to village officials.
The charges against Cook say that over four years, he made $250,000 from two public jobs and a private consulting job but didn’t pay federal income taxes. He was charged with four counts of failing to file federal individual income tax returns from 2005 to 2008 and two counts of failing to file federal corporate tax returns.
On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fox said in court that prosecutors were working on a plea deal with Cook and his lawyer. Denlow set an Oct. 25 date for a change of plea hearing.
Cook entered an initial not guilty plea on Wednesday. After court, Cook wouldn’t talk.
“Under the advice of my attorney, I have no comment,” he said.
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