Old Lady Now Facing Felony For Allegedly Punching County Board Speaker

JOLIET, IL — A 79-year-old woman who was briefly jailed on a misdemeanor charge for allegedly punching county board speaker Jim Moustis after a December meeting now faces felonies for the same supposed crime.

A grand jury indicted Armella Louise Frankowski on two counts of aggravated battery Wednesday. Frankowski could be sent to prison if convicted of punching Moustis.

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.