Socha's Revenge Porn Lawsuit: Joliet Police Lose Key Ruling

JOLIET, IL — For almost three years, lawyers defending the Joliet Police Department have chosen to withhold key documents related to Officer Cassie Socha's federal lawsuit against Joliet and Sgt. Ed Grizzle. Her federal lawsuit alleges she was the victim of a revenge porn scheme orchestrated by higher-ups at the Joliet Police Department intending to embarrass and humiliate her.

Grizzle obtained a search warrant from a Will County judge in May 2018 under the pretext that Socha had committed a crime, according to her lawyer, Hall Adams of Chicago. The search warrant was granted by Will County Circuit Judge Sarah Jones. From there, the Joliet Police Department went through Socha's personal cell phone and found nude photos and videos of her with her future husband, Nick Crowley, according to the plaintiffs.

She was never charged with any crime.

"Plaintiff alleges that Grizzle and the city exceeded the scope of the warrant by seeking private data or images, including nude and sexual videos and images, to embarrass her. Plaintiff contends that Grizzle shared these private images with other city employees and allowed the images to be re-recorded," federal court records show.

Back in 2017, Crowley was charged by the Joliet Police Department with several crimes including reckless discharge of his gun. Joliet Patch previously reported that shortly after their return to Socha's place around 3 a.m., following a night of drinking at several Joliet area bars, a heated argument ensued and Crowley was accused of pulling out his loaded handgun and firing it into their ceiling. At the trial, Socha's rescue pit bull from Chicago was blamed for trying to bite his owner, prompting Crowley pull out the gun and threaten to kill the dog.

In May 2018, Will County Judge Daniel Kennedy found Crowley not guilty of two counts of reckless discharge of a firearm. During the trial, Socha made it clear in her testimony that she was not a victim of any domestic violence. Crowley never hit her and he never pushed her, she testified.

Crowley remains on the Joliet police force to this day. Crowley drew a 30-day unpaid suspension for his role in the overnight shooting disturbance in Socha's townhouse.

"According to plaintiff, she inadvertently sent a text message to another witness, Maria Gatlin, during the criminal trial," U.S. District Court Magistrate David Weisman noted in his Dec. 30 ruling that was unfavorable for the city of Joliet and Joliet Police Department.

"Gatlin showed the text message to members of the prosecution team, including Grizzle and other members of the police department. Grizzle prepared, signed, and swore to a search warrant, and, on May 18, 2018, Judge Sarah Jones issued a search warrant authorizing the search and seizure of plaintiff’s iPhone to the extent the contents 'constitute[d] evidence of the offense of Harassment via electronic communications, Intimidation,” the federal magistrate noted on Dec. 30.

"The Court notes that, to date, the Special Prosecutor has not appeared to have made a prosecutorial decision. Additionally, the Special Prosecutor’s Office received notice of this motion but did not appear at the last status hearing, has not filed an appearance, and has not filed any pleading in this case to address any concerns that office may have as to how discovery in this matter might impact its investigation."

Just how many Joliet police officials may have civil culpability in the Socha lawsuit remains unclear because Joliet's lawyers have refused to turn over key documents to the plaintiffs during the past three years.

"In particular, the City contends that these files are deemed confidential under the relevant Municipal Code. The City further argues that these materials should not be disclosed until the Inspector General concludes its investigation ... Yet, counsel for the City had no idea when the investigation would be complete, or why a seemingly discrete investigation had not been completed to date ... the Court finds that the City has not carried its burden and has not shown that the investigatory privilege applies to these documents," the federal magistrate ruled.

U.S. Magistrate Weisman gave the lawyers representing the Joliet Police Department until Jan. 22 to comply with his ruling.

"The City’s opposition does not explain at any level of specificity why discovery production would interfere with either its own Inspector General’s investigation or the Special Prosecutor’s investigation," the federal magistrate concluded. "The City must produce the requested documents to plaintiff and answer the interrogatories at issue by January 22, 2021 ... the Court grants plaintiff’s motion.

"Plaintiff is directed to send a copy of this order to the Special Prosecutor at the Illinois Office of the State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor by January 6, 2021 and file proof of service."

Last summer, Joliet Patch broke the news that Socha's lawyer was in negotiations with the city of Joliet to settle her lawsuit against the Joliet Police Department for about $950,000.

However, Joliet has not accepted Socha's lawyer's settlement terms, and her federal lawsuit remains pending and moving toward trial.