Former Lake County coroner indicted on 5 counts of perjury

Former Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd has been indicted on perjury charges, the Lake County sheriff’s office announced Wednesday.

A Lake County grand jury indicted Rudd on five felony counts of perjury Wednesday. The charges stem from a one-year investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office and Office of Professional Standards.

A $150,000 arrest warrant was issued for Rudd following the indictment, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rudd’s attorney could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The Daily Herald reported that the indictment stemmed from discrepancies in Rudd’s nomination petitions.

Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim said he turned over the investigation to an independent prosecutor to avoid any conflicts of interest, the newspaper reported.

The Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office will be handling Rudd’s prosecution, according to the Daily Herald.

Brian Towne, a prosecutor in the office, told the newspaper that each count of the indictment alleges Rudd, while under oath, knowingly made false statements with regard to his nominating petitions while he sought the Democratic nomination for Lake County Coroner in 2016.

Contributing: Sam Charles