A former Illinois State trooper who was convicted last year on bribery and official misconduct charges has been sentenced to three years probation. Vermilion Circuit Judge Nancy Fahey also ordered 46-year-old Keith Lumsargis of Westville to pay a $2500 fine, do 100 hours of public service work, and spend 180 days in jail. But the judge added Lumsargis will not have to serve the jail time if he obeys other provisions of his sentence.
‘’You used your position of trust and authority in a way that is not acceptable to this court,’’ the judge told the defendant. The judge added Lumsargis showed ‘’a serious lack of judgment’’, and added it went against the oath of office he took as a state trooper.
Lumsargis was arrested in May of 2014 after authorities say he paid for a dinner for a Tilton Police officer thinking the officer had stopped the defendant’s ex-girlfriend and ticketed her at Lumsargis’ request.
Lumsargis told the judge that he saw no need for counseling. ‘’As far as my conduct as a trooper, I was one of the best,’’ he added in a statement during Thursday’s sentencing hearing. And Lumsargis added, ‘’I believe there’s more to this case than meets the eye.’’ Lumsargis added he respects law enforcement. ‘’My father was a trooper, a sheriff and federal marshal,’’ he added.
Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said Lumsargis ‘’abused that great power that was given to him.’’ And the prosecutor added Lumsargis ‘’went so far as to recruit other officers. And thankfully they came forward.’’ Lacy had asked Judge Fahey to sentence Lumsargis to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The judge called it a ‘’difficult case’’ – noting that Lumsargis didn’t even have as much as a traffic ticket, whereas now he is a convicted felon.
