Joliet Reporter Found In Contempt, Faces Jail Time For Not Revealing Source

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 20, 2013 9:30PM

A Will County judge held a reporter in contempt of court and threatened him with fines and jail time if he doesn’t divulge his source for obtaining confidential police reports related to a scandalous double murder earlier this year.

Will County Circuit Court Judge Gerald Kinney gave Joseph Hosey, a reporter for Patch.com, 180 days to reveal his source or else Hosey could face jail time. Kinney also fined Hosey $1,000 plus court fees and Hosey faces a fine of $300 a day throughout the 180-day period or until he reveals the source.

Hosey first reported on the double murders of Terrance Rankins and Eric Glover in January. The bodies of the two were found in the home of suspect Alisa Massaro. Massaro, Bethany McKee, Joshua Miner and Adam Landerman were all charged in the murders and Hosey used police reports he obtained to report details of the killings, including a salacious allegation that Massaro and Miner engaged in sexual intercourse on top of the bodies.

Attorneys for Bethany McKee want to know the name of the source who provided Hosey with the police reports and asked Kinney to testify under oath. Hosey’s attorney Kenneth L. Schmetterer immediately appealed the decision and expressed confidence Illinois’ shield laws will result in overturning Kinney’s ruling.

“That’s a principle that’s established and recognized by appellate courts and the Illinois Supreme Court by the statute, and that’s why we’re going to vigorously press forward with our appeal,” Schmetterer said, adding an appeal could take months. Kinney stayed the fines against Hosey pending appeal.