Special Prosecutor Appointed to Try Old Woman Charged With Punching County Board Speaker

JOLIET, IL — A special prosecutor has been tasked with trying the case of an old woman with a walker who allegedly punched the county board speaker in the shoulder after a meeting.

Armella Louise Frankowski, 79, faces a charge of battery for allegedly attacking speaker Jim Moustis at the county building two weeks ago.

In a petition for a protective order against the senior citizen, Moustis said he was walking out of a board meeting 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.”

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. He did not explain why.