Jury acquits husband of assault charges (Lake County News-Sun)

Jury acquits husband of assault charges
Remains in custody on immigration hold

February 19, 2010
By BETH KRAMER ekramer@stmedianetwork.com

Even though a jury found the Buffalo Grove man accused of sexually assaulting his wife at knifepoint not guilty of all charges, he remains in custody at the Lake County Jail.

Kun Lee, 54, was found not guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint following less than two hours of jury deliberation.

He remains in custody because immigration has placed a hold on the South Korean immigrant.

Thursday marked the conclusion of Lee's re-trial. A different jury found him guilty in July 2006, and in December that year he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, the state Appellate Court found that Lee had not been properly advised of his right to defend himself in court.

In the re-trial, Lee was represented by attorney Jed Stone.

Charges of residential arson were dropped from the first trial. When Assistant State's Attorney Brett Henne sought to include them in the re-trial, Associate Judge George Bridges dismissed the indictment, citing prosecution vindictiveness.

Henne has filed an appeal on that decision, which is making its way through Appellate Court.

Unless an order comes from the federal government, Lee will remain in jail because of the immigration hold.

He is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 24.