Crime victim advocate, Dolton trustee accused of assault

DOLTON, Ill. — Andrew Holmes is best known for comforting crime victims’ families in Chicago; but he’s also an elected trustee in south suburban Dolton. A lawsuit now accuses Holmes of sexual assault during a taxpayer-funded trip to Las Vegas.

WGN Investigates has obtained a police report in which the alleged victim details a night of drinking and smoking marijuana at several Vegas hotels before she says she became disoriented. While names are redacted in the report filed in March with South Holland police, the civil lawsuit names Holmes and Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard.

WGN Investigates: Tiffany Henyard’s top lieutenant indicted

The lawsuit claims Holmes called a Dolton police officer — who was on the Las Vegas trip acting as Henyard’s security — to brag about his exploits on the trip. When Holmes began talking about Henyard’s female aide being passed-out in his hotel room the officer asked Holmes to Facetime so he could better document a potential crime, the lawsuit states.

“Trustee Holmes then panned the camera toward a bed where [the officer] could see a woman… who was partially undressed,” the lawsuit says.

Holmes has not been charged with a crime and has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. He previously told WGN Investigates he had attempted to help a younger colleague who became disoriented. Holmes has declined several interview requests and continues to console and counsel crime victims’ families.

The alleged victim and the officer say they reported the incident to Mayor Henyard the day after they returned home from the trip. They recounted Henyard saying she would be “ruined” if the incident became public and promised to take care of it, according to the lawsuit. Henyard’s aide said she was put on unpaid leave and essentially terminated. The police officer also alleges retaliation saying he was demoted off of Henyard’s security detail for reporting and corroborating the incident.

WGN Investigates: Mayor, money and mistrust in Dolton

While all names are redacted, the report filed with South Holland police 10 months later provides several new details of the alleged assault and aftermath.

Henyard’s aide told South Holland police the Dolton officer said he could see via Facetime that Holmes was “not wearing a shirt” and that he “walked over to where she was sleeping and pulled her clothing back, exposing her [private parts].”

The police report also says the alleged victim said she saved a shirt that contained “bodily fluids.” An officer asked to bring the shirt to the police station as potential evidence, the report says. South Holland police have said they have contacted Las Vegas police to help with the investigation.

WGN Investigates reported on the Las Vegas trip in November where village and township officials racked-up $8,400 in hotel charges, Henyard’s first class airfare cost $3,700 and meals pricey meals at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and other restaurants were expensed to taxpayers.

Dolton lawsuit by WGN Web Desk on Scribd

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.