Kramer campaign manager Harper pleads guilty to domestic battery charge

ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP – Dennis Harper, the campaign manager for Kane County Sheriff Donald Kramer’s successful race, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. Harper was admitted into a deferred prosecution program.

Kane County Judge John Noverini accepted the plea from Harper, 55, for an amended domestic battery charge alleging Harper grabbed his estranged wife at their home in Sugar Grove on Feb. 16, 2014. Harper's trial had been scheduled to begin Monday, court records show.

For those who successfully complete the one-year program, the charge will be dismissed, and they will not have a conviction on their record, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's website, www.saopublic.co.kane.il.us.

The diversion program is designed to hold first-time offenders accountable and provides counseling “to prevent them from becoming repeat offenders,” according to the website.

If requirements of the program are not completed, or if a new offense is committed, participants “will be terminated from the program, a conviction will be entered and the criminal case will proceed to sentencing,” according to the website.

The remaining count of causing bodily harm to a family or household member stays open until the file is closed in totality, officials said. Harper is to appear in the court Feb. 16 to report on his progress.

Harper's attorneys said there would be no comment. Kramer also said he would not comment about his former campaign manager's guilty plea.

Harper is a retired Batavia police officer who owns a driving school. He also worked as a part-time officer for Campton Hills and the Kane County Forest Preserve police departments.

As a result of the charges, Harper is on leave without pay from both departments, officials said.

Court records show Harper’s wife filed for divorce three days after the domestic battery incident, and it became final in June.