Ex-CPD cop receives 6-year sentence after 7 years on the run

Madelyn Kidd, News Editor

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to show the correct sentencing.

David Iwaniw, a former Charleston Police Officer and previously on the Coles County Most Wanted list, was sentenced to six years at the Illinois Department of Corrections for felony charges of Class 3 Felony unofficial misconduct and Class 2 Felony violation of bail bond of a class 1 offense on Monday.

Iwaniw was sentenced for the official misconduct felony with three years prison time with a one year mandatory supervised release along with a fine for a total $1,290. For the three years served a 313 day credit will be applied for the time Iwaniw has been in custody since he returned in January. This leaves 1,062 days of 1,095 left to serve in prison.

Iwaniw was sentenced for the violation of bail bond felony for three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, served consecutively with the other felony charges, a one year mandatory supervised release, and a fine for $3,529.75.

In total, Iwaniw will be held by the department of corrections for six years and a fine of $4,819.75.

Iwaniw pleaded guilty to both felony charges prior to the sentencing hearing. Originally, Iwanwi pleaded guilty to the Class 2 Felony for violating bail bond of a Class 1 offense and was to go on bench trial for his original charges he violated the bond of almost eight years ago.

In February 2013, Iwaniw was a CPD officer and charged with three Class 1 felonies after allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old. Those three felonies were: Criminal Sexual Assault/Victim 13-17 years old, Criminal Sexual Assault with Force and Child Pornography.

Iwaniw went on the run on July 21, 2014 and was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in January in Arizona on the border with Mexico. At some point after violating his bail bond, Iwaniw fled to Mexico. He was returned to Coles County on Jan. 28.

In September, Iwaniw was given a plea deal by Special Prosecutor Lorinda Lamkin to drop the three Class 1 offenses from 2013 and plead guilty to a Class 3 Felony for official misconduct/forbidden act. This occurred right before Iwaniw was set to be on bench trial for the three felonies starting on Oct. 3.

An order of protection for two years following Iwaniw’s release was granted for the victim.

In response to the sentencing, the victim said it was sad for there to be victim blaming today.

“I am glad that he is serving time,” she said. “I think it’s very sad that in this day and age, there is still victim blaming going on. That saddens my heart, and unfortunately the judge does not know that there are other victims. And I cannot blame the judge, but I do know, I have evidence that more people will be coming out. And like I said in court, I will be there for them. So when that happens, this is just the start.”

During the hearing, the victim gave her victim impact statement to the court. WIthin that statement she said she wished she “had been fought harder for.” She also spoke directly to Iwaniw during the statement.

“You didn’t win,” She said. “You didn’t break me… I am the victim; it is not you.”

Iwaniw’s attorney, Evan Bruno, said they were hoping that the 313 days Iwaniw has already spent in jail would be enough to be released on probation today.

“We were hoping that the time spent in jail would have been enough to secure [Iwaniw’s] release today with probation, and that’s what we asked for,” Bruno said. “But we understand the judge’s reasoning.”

Bruno also stated he respects the judge’s decision.

Lamkin requested Judge James Glenn to give Iwaniw the maximum sentencing for both felonies based on him fleeing.

“He chose as a police officer to leave and flee the country,” Lamkin said.

Prior to announcing the sentencing, Glenn told Iwaniw “you had everything going for you… but you did something bad.”

Glenn also described how for seven and a half years, anyone visiting the Coles County Sheriff’s Department saw a former Charleston police officer’s picture on the wall. Glenn described this as a “slap in the face” for community members and people Iwaniw served.

Prior to Glenn giving the sentence he said he doesn’t agree with the victim that Iwaniw is a threat to others.

 

Madelyn Kidd can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].