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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Former client of Duebbert claims sexual battery in petition seeking to withdraw guilty plea

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BELLEVILLE – Carlos Rodriguez of Belleville, who swore while on probation for fleeing police that St. Clair County Circuit Judge Ron Duebbert sexually battered him when in private practice, had signed a different affidavit 12 days earlier. 

In the first one, he swore he needed to withdraw a guilty plea because Duebbert failed to inform him that he would lose his driver’s license. 

In the second, he swore he needed to withdraw the plea because Duebbert offered to reduce $100 from his legal bill if Rodriguez would perform oral sex. 

A special prosecutor will investigate the accusation. 

Duebbert represented Rodriguez for two months last year. 

Centreville police arrested Rodriguez on Sept. 26, 2016, and charged that he fled an officer and tried to elude him at a speed 21 miles per hour above the limit. 

State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly filed criminal information charging felony offenses of aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude. 

Circuit Judge Jan Fiss issued a warrant with $20,000 bond. 

Rodriguez pleaded not guilty on Sept. 27, and did not post bond. 

On Sept. 30, Associate Judge John O’Gara reduced bond to $10,000 and approved his release, finding he had no prior felony convictions. 

After Duebbert won the election, Dedra Moore replaced him as Rodriguez’s lawyer. 

Fiss continued the case in January, writing that Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities would evaluate Rodriguez. 

Fiss continued it in March and May, writing on the second occasion that Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities would evaluate Rodriguez. 

Fiss continued it again in June, finding Rodriguez scheduled an evaluation on June 28. He continued it in July, finding Rodriguez scheduled an evaluation on Aug. 2. 

On Aug. 22, Rodriguez pleaded guilty. 

Fiss placed him on probation for 24 months, fined him $1,524, and marked a box reading “election of treatment.” 

According to the court file, Rodriguez owed $1,424 as of Oct. 24. 

On Sept. 15, Enyart moved to withdraw Rodriguez’s plea. 

Enyart wrote that Duebbert, Moore and Fiss all failed to advise Rodriguez that he would lose his driver’s license. 

He wrote that Rodriguez wouldn’t have pleaded guilty if he had known he’d lose it.  

On Sept. 27, Rodriguez signed an affidavit swearing that in Duebbert’s office, after a court date last October, Duebbert grabbed his penis through his underwear. 

“Ron Duebbert told me that he would knock $100 off my bill if I would suck his penis,” Rodriguez wrote. “I told him no.” 

He wrote that he freaked out, froze up, and felt disgusted. 

He wrote that on Nov. 22, Duebbert brought up that someone paid a person $20,000 to say that he touched him. 

He wrote that Duebbert said, “You would never take any money to go after me. 

“I believe he was asking me this to make sure I would never tell anyone that he offered to reduce my legal fees in exchange for oral sex.” 

On Oct. 5, Kelly requested a special prosecutor to investigate charges of sexual misconduct against a judge he didn’t identify. 

On Oct. 23, Enyart amended the motion to vacate the plea. 

Enyart wrote that he filed the first motion “to preserve the statutory deadline.” 

He wrote that Rodriguez filed complaints with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission, the Judicial Inquiry Board, and Belleville police. 

He wrote that Moore was probably aware of Duebbert’s misconduct and that the incompetency of counsel continued during her representation. 

He wrote that Rodriguez suffered mental anguish and embarrassment. 

Court records show that Belleville police issued Rodriguez a ticket on Aug. 12, charging that he operated a vehicle without insurance. 

He missed a first appearance on Sept. 28. 

On Nov. 6, he must show cause why the court should not hold him in contempt.

Duebbert has declined comment. 

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