CASEYVILLE - Former Caseyville village trustee Kerry Davis and wife Carroll accused village attorney Doug Stewart of defamation at a meeting of trustees on Jan. 3 for linking them to an alleged criminal conspiracy, which they say is not true.
Kerry told trustees, “Whoever is trying to shame and embarrass my family needs to stop and apologize not only to my family but to everybody in this room.”
He called it slander.
Carroll told trustees, “Whoever is your source lied to you, and it’s going to be a problem.”
She called it defamation.
Stewart sent Caseyville residents a letter on Dec. 20, stating he and police chief Tom Coppotellii met with the state’s attorney’s office regarding criminal charges.
He wrote that individuals falsely alleged theft of public funds and participated in filing reports with the federal bureau of investigation, the Illinois attorney general and state police.
Stewart claimed they created disinformation to allege that the village paid about $3,000 to fix a truck that belonged to G. W. Scott Jr., son of mayor G. W. Scott.
He wrote that investigations by the village and state police found no substantiation.
Stewart wrote that he’d likely present a resolution to the board in January, seeking authority to recover funds the village used to investigate the allegation.
He wrote that he’d likely recommend legal action against those who perpetuated what he called a scheme to defraud the village of tens of thousands of dollars.
Stewart argued that the action would likely include trustee Matt Modrovsky, Belleville resident Bradley Van Hoose, and others.
The last word left a cloud over the many names Stewart dropped in a timeline of events.
Stewart wrote that Billy Hayes confided in a resident that he discussed the plan with Rebecca Take and trustee Kent Luebbers.
He didn’t identify the resident or report any effort to ask Hayes, Take or Luebbers about it.
He wrote that per trustee John Buckley, Nick Beland approached Buckley and said Village Clerk Cindy Miller and Planning Commission Chair Debbie Blaylock were Van Hoose’s sources.
Stewart wrote that Miller and Blaylock denied Beland’s allegations outright that evening.
He didn’t report any effort to ask Beland if he said it.
He wrote that Modrovsky contacted him and indicated Hayes started the whole thing by introducing everyone.
Stewart wrote, “Trustee Modrovsky’s statements corroborate prior eyewitness accounts seeing Brad Van Hoose, Billy Hayes, and Matt Modrovsky at Kerry and Carroll Davis’s residence a few months prior.”
He didn’t identify the witness.
Stewart wrote that on the day of the front porch visit, Carroll Davis posted on Facebook that she “loves when friends stop by."
The timeline included Scott Junior’s service of a defamation suit on Van Hoose.
Stewart wrote, “The litigation against Mr. Van Hoose will likely continue for several months.”
He didn't disclose to residents that he represents Scott Junior and served subpoenas for documents on Modrovsky, Luebbers, and trustee Dan Cary.
At the meeting on Jan. 3, Kerry Davis said he went to about 800 meetings in 32 years.
“No one had time to disrespect one another or anyone else and everyone conducted themselves in a professional manner,” he said.
“I have the attorney’s letter and it’s a strange piece of work,” he added.
A chuckle of agreement ran through the gallery.
He said it should have been easy to look into the claims.
“Why in God’s name you would go on is beyond me,” he said.
“Brad Van Hoose wouldn’t be in my home under any circumstances,” he added.
Davis said Stewart alleged he and his wife were in a conspiracy.
“We had nothing to do with it,” he said.
“Photographs of Brad Van Hoose at my house do not exist,” he continued.
Carroll Davis said they might have to hire counsel for defamation.
She said it hurt to read “it’s nice when friends drop by” from her Facebook post in Stewart’s letter.
Kerry said, “Something nice and decent is turned into conspiracy."
Earlier that day Modrovsky, Luebbers and Cary reported to St. Clair County Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf in response to Stewart’s subpoenas.
Rudolf asked if they brought documents, and they said no.
They said they needed outside counsel.
Rudolf told them he set a conference for Jan. 31; and if they don’t have counsel on that date, they must appear in person.
They moved for counsel at the meeting of trustees that night, but mayor Scott, Buckley, and trustee Ron Santfleben matched their votes and tabled the motion.
Also on Jan. 3, Van Hoose moved to change venue to a different circuit.
He wrote that he previously sued Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson and exposed unfavorable case information about members of the judiciary and their families.
He added that he filed complaints against St. Clair County judges to the attorney registration and disciplinary commission and the judicial inquiry board.