Sheriff Curran Filling In as Lake County Coroner

"Today is day one," said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran on Wednesday, as he prepared to go the the Lake County Coroner's office. In addition to his responsibilities as Lake County Sheriff, Curran will be filling in as Lake County Coroner.

Former Coroner Richard Keller resigned the post on Tuesday.

Keller was charged with obstructing justice and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, according to Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller. After pleading guilty to both felony charges, Keller immediately resigned his position on Tuesday.

Lake County Board Chairman David Stolman is seeking to appoint someone to fill the vacancy within 60 days, with the advice and consent of the county board, according to Illinois state law. The appointee must be a Democrat, the same political party Keller was.

The Coroner's Office is a countywide elected office responsible for investigating the manner and cause of deaths occurring within Lake County. The appointee will serve the remainder of Keller's term, which runs until November 2012.

The person must also be a resident of Lake County, and within 30 days of taking office, apply for admission to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board's coroners training program. 

Keller pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstructing justice and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He had allegedly given out methodone to staff and clients of the Green Dragonfly Clinic in Waukegan without proper medical exams, and then withheld the required documentation when it was subpoenaed. On Feb. 22, Keller resigned his post of six years, and was required to give up his medical license.

Per state statute, Curran will fill the role of county coroner until a new candidate can be found.

"This is the first day," Curran said, when asked if he planned to institute any changes in the Lake County Coroner's office. "I believe this is something I need to do. It is in the statute. When you are called to serve, you do what you have to do."

Curran said he will review the activities that had been going on under Keller's watch.

"There was a hierarchy in the coroner's office where Keller and his number two guy, (Robert) Barrett, were doing things beyond the scope of the coroner's office," Curran said.