Busch pleads not guilty

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PRINCETON — The Downers Grove man arrested for the Flags of Freedom vandalism has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Edward John Busch, 47, appeared in Bureau County Court Friday morning before Circuit Judge Marc Bernabei. After entering his not guilty plea, Busch asked the judge for a jury trial, which was then set for 9 a.m. Aug. 20. The final pre-trial hearing was set for 1:15 p.m. Aug. 8 before Bernabei.

Busch was arrested March 30 and charged with one count of the Class 3 felony of criminal damage to government-supported property, the Flags of Freedom site on North Main Street in Princeton. If convicted, he could receive up to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and a $25,000 fine. Busch is also eligible for probation.

The Downers Grove man is free from custody having posted 10 percent of a $10,000 bond.

On Friday, Princeton Deputy Chief Allan Beaber confirmed the investigation into the Flags of Freedom vandalism is still on-going. No further information into the investigation could be released at this time, he said.

On May 24, 2006, the Princeton Police Department received a call concerning the vandalism to the Flags of Freedom site, located at the Route 26 and Interstate 80 intersection. The control panels to the automatic hoists for each of the four flags had been pried off, Beaber said. A crime scene investigation was conducted and the Princeton Police Department began an extensive investigation, he said.

The Flags of Freedom site was planned and developed by the 25-member Flags of Freedom Committee and its co-chairmen, Princeton Police Chief Tom Root and Princeton resident Jack Scott. The Flags of Freedom were raised in a dedication ceremony in September 2005. The Flags of Freedom Committee has since transferred the management and remaining upkeep funds to the city.

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