St. Clair County has had more than its fair share of scandals and controversies involving judges.
Back in 2006, Circuit Judge Patrick Young was involved in an alleged drunk driving incident, following a St. Louis Rams game, in which he struck and injured the driver of a pickup truck. Young’s passenger, on that day, was none other than his friend Chief Judge Jan Fiss. A settlement was eventually reached in that case.
Then, in 2013, a double whammy occurred when Associate Judge Joe Christ dropped dead from a cocaine overdose at the family hunting lodge of his buddy Circuit Judge Michael Cook.
Shortly thereafter, Judge Cook himself was busted, during a much publicized sting, in possession of a weapon while attempting to purchase heroin. He went on to serve a two-year federal prison stint.
Now a special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate possible obstruction-of-justice charges against St. Clair County Circuit Judge Ronald Duebbert, in connection with a recent murder case involving David E. Fields, 20, of Belleville.
Fields, who was previously convicted of a 2013 assault of a 17-year-old girl at Belleville East High school, once lived with Duebbert upon his release from prison. Duebbert, who is openly gay, claims that he was simply “being Christian” in attempting to mentor Fields in turning his life around and that his relationship with Fields was not of a romantic nature.
However, a video posted on Fields’ Facebook page (from May 2015) shows Fields out for a friendly cruise in a Porsche, driven by Duebbert, while Fields bragged about his gang affiliations.
In a second video, posted during that same month, Duebbert and Fields are shown in a Porsche heading toward East St. Louis, as Fields boasts about his Versace apparel and making casual references to Duebbert as “Dollar Bill.”
In other Facebook posts, Fields displayed a variety of Versace clothing and accessories for sale at discounted prices.
But apparently this unusual reform program was an abysmal failure and demonstrated incredibly poor judgment on the part of Judge Duebbert, who was recently interviewed by the Major Case Squad regarding new charges involving Fields.
These latest charges against Fields stem from the Christmas holiday murder of Carl Z. Silas, when Silas was shot him in the face in front of his two children in his Belleville apartment.
In the meantime, St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson has placed Duebbert on administrative duties and removed him from hearing cases. However, Duebbert will continue receiving his $185,500 per-year salary as he awaits his due process. Gleeson has stated that he fully intends to file a complaint regarding Duebbert with the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, and rightfully so.
According to Steven Pflaum, chairman of the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee, there is no precedent involving a judge residing with a parolee or one accused of a criminal offense.
Yet, if Duebbert is found to be in violation of some judicial ethical code of conduct, it could lead to a penalty which may include a formal reprimand, suspension or even removal from office.
Even if Duebbert’s intentions were genuinely good, there are better ways of providing opportunities and mentorship to a violent ex-offender without physically becoming their roommate, especially if you happen to be a judge.
Email jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@JamesTIngram.
