Apr 7, 2009 6:40 am US/Central
Man Found In Contempt Of Court For Cell Phone Use
Michael Koumandarkis Of Lake Barrington Left Courtroom In Middle Of Hearing To Take Call
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (Lake County News-Sun) ―
It could have been worse had he answered the call right there.
A northwest suburban Lake Barrington resident, whose cell phone rang while standing before Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips on Monday, made the situation worse by running out of the room while the judge was hearing motions in his case.
The peculiar scene ended with Michael Koumandarkis being required to donate $50 to charity.
The incident occurred while Koumandarkis, 46, was standing near Phillips' bench, listening to his attorney and the prosecutor argue motions in his aggravated battery case. The hearing was interrupted when a loud cell phone rang three times, and court personnel -- including Phillips -- glanced around to find the offending phone. Then without warning, Koumandarkis ran out of the room. He later told the court he ran out to turn off the phone because it makes an even louder noise when shut down.
Koumandarkis' dash didn't sit well with Phillips, who stopped the hearing, before resuming roughly 20 minutes later and finding Koumandarkis in contempt.
"That certainly disrupted the proceeding of this court," Phillips told the defendant, before requiring him to pay $50 to a charity of his choice.
Chiming, ringing and even singing of cell phones aren't uncommon in Lake County courtrooms, despite signs urging everyone to turn off phones, and courtroom deputies threatening to confiscate them. Monday's case was rare because it led to someone being found in contempt and fined.
Because Koumandarkis has a case pending in his courtroom, Phillips could not comment on his decision.
Chief Judge James Booras said cell phone usage in court is restricted under the same guidelines that prohibit cameras and audio and video recordings.
(CBS 2 and the Lake County News-Sun are news partners covering stories in the north suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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