Judge Continues Steinys Battery Trial

The trial of a Plainfield Park District commissioner accused of battery won't be resolved until at least Aug. 22.

That's the new date Judge Joseph Polito set for Peter Steinys' bench trial, which got under way July 9.

Read: Plainfield Park Commissioner Accused of Battery, Threats in Spat Over Campaign Signs

Steinys, 56, is accused of attacking a rival campaign worker in a row over election signs last fall. A volunteer for state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant's campaign claims that Steinys was replacing the Democratic candidate's signs with Garrett Peck signs. Peck, a village board member and now the new executive director of the park district, unsuccessfully ran against Bertino-Tarrant last fall.

Joliet firefighter Mike Carlin testified July 9, accusing Steinys of hitting him with a car door, chasing him,and grabbing his arms with both hands after a dispute over which campaign had the right to place its signs in a field near Route 59 and Feeney Drive. 

Carlin also claims Steinys threatened him, saying, “I’m sick of this s---, don’t f--- with me, I’m going to f---ing kill you.”

Steinys, who is represented by attorney Ragain Freitag, has yet to testify.

On the court's motion, the case was continued to Thursday, Aug. 22. Originally, the bench trial was scheduled to resume Monday, Aug. 5.

Because Steinys faces a local ordinance charge, he cannot be sentenced to jail time if found guilty.

An attorney for the Village of Plainfield said two Plainfield police officers and another Bertino-Tarrant campaign worker will also testify. Last month, Freitag said only Steinys is expected to testify for the defense.