Old Lady Back in Jail For Allegedly Punching Jim Moustis in Shoulder

JOLIET, IL — An old woman indicted on felony charges this week for allegedly straightening up from her walker long enough to punch county board speaker Jim Moustis in the shoulder was back behind bars Friday morning.

Armella Frankowski, 79, was booked into the Will County jail on two counts of aggravated battery and a single count of battery. The elderly Mokena resident could be sent to prison if she is found guilty of punching Moustis following a December county board meeting.

After the alleged attack, Moustis, 67, petitioned for a protective order against Frankowski.

In the petition, Moustis claimed he was walking out of a board meeting at the county building on North Chicago Street when Frankowski — who was “sitting in her seated walker” in the lobby — said, “Come here Mr. Moustis. I have something for you, you son of a bitch,” according to the petition.

Frankowski then stood and punched Moustis in the shoulder, the petition said.

“She was aiming for my face but I tried to step away to avoid her punch,” Moustis said. “Then she said, ‘I’ll get you Mr. Moustis, you torturer you.”

This was not the first time Frankowski, a Mokena resident, has tormented the Frankfort Republican, according to the petition. In August, Frankowski reportedly showed up to a county board meeting and said, “Mr. Moustis you are a rotten satanist.” She also said, “Get rid of that Moustis,” “Moustis is the devil,” and I’m going to get a gun,” although she couched that by explaining, “I didn’t say what kind of gun, it could have been a squirt gun or one with flowers on it,” the petition said.

In November, according to the petition, Frankowski showed up to a Republican Caucus meeting and handed county board member Ray Tuminello a plastic eyeball, then said, “Give this to Mr. Moustis and tell him I got my eye on him.”

As she left the room, Frankowski “yelled, ‘Did you get the eyeball Jim. I have my eye on you,” the petition said.

Moustis, who is also the Frankfort Township supervisor, said Frankowski has been harassing him for years, possibly more than 16.

A special prosecutor was appointed to try Frankowski. She is scheduled to appear in court for the felony case next month.