Whiteside board member, wife facing misdemeanor child endangerment charge

STERLING – A Whiteside County Board member and his wife were arrested late Monday morning and charged with endangering the life or health of a 16-month-old girl, a misdemeanor, Sterling police said in a news release.

Shane P. and Samantha J. Celestino, both 33 and of Sterling, were arrested at 11:42 a.m. at the police department after an investigation that began in February, the release said.

They were released with a notice to appear in court on July 13.

Detective Maggie Ellmaker said the investigation focused on the child’s health. She declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

Shane Celestion, too, declined to speak until the investigation is concluded “and the matter is behind us.” The Celestinos are represented by attorney Allison B. Fagerman of Rock Falls.

Celestino, a District 1 Republican, was elected in 2014 and serves on the board’s Health and Social Services Committee. His term is up this year, and he is not seeking re-election.

Before that, he was supervisor of Hopkins Township.