Putnam County attorney's solicitation of sex case continued

OTTAWA — A Putnam County attorney charged with solicitation of sex will see whether a motion to toss evidence from a LaSalle County prostitution sting is successful before his next hearing.

Roger C. Bolin, 65, of Hennepin, was one of nine arrested in a La Salle County sting at Ottawa and Peru hotels that included the former mayor of Sandwich, who recently pleaded guilty, and an Illinois Valley Community Hospital official. Bolin serves as a public defender in Putnam County.

Bolin is also charged with a complaint of battery.

In court Wednesday, Bolin's next hearing was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Judge H. Chris Ryan's courtroom. Bolin's attorney filed a motion to have evidence dismissed, saying law enforcement officers received approval from the state's attorney's office for the ability to listen and record conversations, but noted solicitation of sex is not listed as an eligible offense to acquire evidence through recordings.

IVCH official James "Jim" G. Schaefer, 54, of Peru, also filed a similar motion, saying the audio and video recordings placed in a hotel during his April 4 arrest were illegal.

Schaefer's hearing is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 12, six days prior to Bolin's, meaning it should give insight to what will happen with Bolin's similar motion.