Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons is accusing his political opponent of invading the privacy of a young rape victim.

It's a charge that Darin LaHood denies, although he says he >did< try to meet with the victim's father.

Lyons says LaHood showed up announced at the victim's home last Thursday, talked with the victim's mother,.and represented himself as "the new prosecutor of the case."

"What principal of legal ethics would guide a person to visit a rape victim, unannounced and uninvited, and represent themselves to simple citizens that they are the 'new prosecutor' in the case? asked Lyons during a statement Tuesday."

Lyons showed a blow–up of the business card LaHood left behind.
The State's Attorney's office learned about LaHood's visit because the family called Lyon's office asking about a change of prosecutors,.and then said LaHood planned to visit the home again yesterday.
Lyons' investigators were there too.

"When investigators approached the driver's door of attorney LaHood's car, he looked at them through the window, put the car in gear, and sped away," said Lyons.

But Darin LaHood says he did nothing wrong, that he was there to speak to the victim's father, denied telling anyone he was the new prosecutor.and said Lyons was trying to deflect attention from the fact that police benevolents in the area were not supporting Lyons.
LaHood said he was told about the case by outraged Peoria police detectives.

"And they said it was outrageous. The criminal justice system failed them there. That's what happened here. I mean, the practical part of this –I mean, let's look at this –a guy rapes four young girls and he's still out to rape a fifth one," said LaHood.

LaHood wouldn't say which officers he talked to...or how he learned of the victim's address...but repeated the assertion that the issue was that accused rapist Monterius Hinkle hadn't been prosecuted after a first attack on a Peoria girl.

"And that's the bottom line. This guy was a monster. And, he should have been properly prosecuted and he wasn't. And that's the bottom line," LaHood said during an impromptu news conference.

Darin LaHood says he's not concerned that his comments might affect Monterius Hinkle's upcoming jury trial...
Meanwhile, Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard says he was unfamiliar with reports his officers had disclosed information to a private citizen.....and declined comment.