Illinois Valley Times

Former La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne has been placed on administrative duties at the Illinois Office of the State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor (ILSAAP) following his indictment on 17 felony counts, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).

The ECW posted on its Illinois Leaks website that although the ILSAAP website still lists Towne as one of its special prosecutors, agency Director Patrick Delfing said he placed Towne on administrative duties the morning after news of the charges broke on Sept. 5.

Towne is accused of official misconduct and misapplication of public funds, both felonies, according to a previous ECW report. If convicted, Towne could face probation or prison and could lose all of his retirement benefits from his time as state’s attorney.

Brian Towne | Photo courtesy Edgar County Watchdogs

Towne was La Salle County state’s attorney from 2006 to 2016, when he lost his re-election bid to Karen Donnelly, who has brought the charges against him, according to a MyWebTimes report. While in office, Towne created the State’s Attorney Felony Enforcement (SAFE) unit, which was subsequently determined to be an illegal police unit by the Illinois Supreme Court. Towne is also in the midst of a federal lawsuit related to the SAFE unit.