Special Prosecutor Appointed to Case of Councilman Larry Hug's Alleged Slapper

JOLIET, IL — The Will County Chief Judge appointed a special prosecutor to try the case of a Joliet man charged with slapping City Councilman Larry Hug at an Essington Road bar.

Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt made the appointment Wednesday.

Hug was allegedly slapped by 46-year-old real estate agent Mark Koenig at Double J Sports Bar March 31. Koenig was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor battery eight days after the alleged slap attack.

Bar surveillance Video obtained by Patch showed Hug, Koenig, Will County Board member Annette Parker and Parker’s husband, Brian Parker, hanging around the Double J smoking enclosure for about an hour and a half before tempers flared and Koenig attacked Hug.

After the series of slaps, blood seeped from Hug’s nose and down onto his shirt. He managed to continue smoking and called the cops on Koenig.

Patch also obtained a recording of Hug’s 911 call.

Police reports on the incident were turned over to Patch but city attorney Marty Shanahan had them so thoroughly redacted that all names but Koenig’s were blacked out, as were any statements made by those interviewed about the incident.

Patch is appealing Shanahan’s attempt to withhold the statements contained in the reports.