By Joe Ragusa
BLOOMINGTON – Former McLean County sheriff’s deputy Shaun O’Grady has pleaded guilty on the day his jury trial was scheduled to begin on official misconduct charges.
O’Grady pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and the felony charges against him were dropped. He was accused of partially blocking a highway in rural Colfax two years ago when his squad car was hit from behind by a truck. He told investigators that he parked a safe distance away from the road.
The driver of the truck was ticketed but those tickets were eventually rescinded.
After an arbitrator upheld O’Grady’s dismissal, it was revealed that it appeared he was stopping on the side of the road to urinate.
He’ll serve 18 months of court supervision and pay $10,000 to cover the cost of the damaged county squad car.
If he successfully completes his sentence, no conviction will appear on his record.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at joe.ragusa@cumulus.com.
