Published on: November 13, 2024, 06:19h.
Last updated on: November 13, 2024, 06:19h.
A former member of ex-Illinois State Rep. Tim Ozinga’s team is facing charges for sending inappropriate images to legislators who opposed a casino project.
Timothy Pawula previously served as Ozinga’s chief of staff before Ozinga’s sudden resignation from the Illinois House in April.
Pawula first faced charges in May after State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) reported the alleged harassment.
Further charges were brought against Pawula in September based on complaints from State Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island) and former Tinley Park mayoral candidate Ahleah Salefski.
Shared Opposition
Each victim opposed a casino and racetrack project in Tinley Park that Ozingaconsequently championed.
The project was abandoned in 2023 after Hastings led an initiative to sell the land for $1 to the Park District, aiming to convert it into a sports complex.
The explicit images were sent in late 2022 using the app TextFree to conceal the sender’s identity, according to court documents.
Rita, a prominent member of the Illinois House gaming committee, believed he was targeted for his opposition to the casino project.
“Tinley Park Mayor Glotz had intentions of constructing a racetrack casino against the residents’ wishes,” he said. “Sen. Hastings and I collaborated to prevent this.”
Meanwhile, Salefski contested Glotz in an anti-casino platform without success.
Intimidating Images
Rita received fake pornographic images depicting him engaged in a graphic scenario with another official.
“It’s disturbing that someone would create and distribute such content,” Rita told Patch.com.
During the same period, Hastings allegedly received explicit images involving himself, Gov. JB Pritzker, and other officials, as per a source speaking to WGN. Salefski reported harassing messages and disturbing visuals.
“It was a negative portrayal,” Salefski commented to Patch. “As a community-involved mother, I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone, especially another woman. It’s appalling.”
Neither Ozinga nor Glotz have been implicated in the harassment incidents.