Chicago man reaches plea deal, sentenced for threatening Illinois state senator

FREEPORT, Ill. – A Chicago man who was accused of threatening an Illinois state senator last year has reached a plea deal and has been sentenced.

On Nov. 24, Joseph Haggerty, 59, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of Threatening a Public Official, a Class 4 Felony.

The crime.

On Sep. 2, police say Haggerty sent an email to Illinois State Senator Andrew Chesney threatening to, ‘cave his [fucking] teeth in and make [him] sip [his] food through a straw for the rest of [his] dumb [assholes] coward life,’ according to the original criminal complaint we obtained.

In addition, police say Haggerty sent State Sen. Chesney another email threatening that,‘I only hope I can stand next to you at some point because you would be sipping your food through a [fucking] straw for the rest of your miserable cowardice [fucking] life,’ according to the complaint.

Chesney released the following statement:

‘I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigations for their professionalism, diligence, and swift action throughout this case. Their commitment to public safety is exemplary, and I am grateful to know that Mr. Haggerty will be held accountable for these felony crimes. It is deeply troubling that an inspector for the City of Chicago issued violent threats against a sitting public official, and such conduct must be met with the seriousness it deserves.’

Chesney is a Republican who represents District 45, which covers most of northwest Illinois. He assumed office in Jan. 2023 and is running for re-election in 2026.

Plea deal & Sentencing.

On Jan. 21, Haggerty appeared in court to consider dismissing the charges, on grounds of ‘improper venue and/or failure to state an offense,’ court records show.

Instead, prosecutors and the defense agreed to a plea deal with reduced charges, court documents show.

As part of the deal, Haggerty pleaded Guilty to two counts of Attempted Threatening a Public Official, a Class A Misdemeanor.

Haggerty was sentenced to two years of probation and 90 days in jail, with credit for 30 days and the remaining 60 days stayed, court documents show.

Furthermore, the court ordered Haggerty to have no contact with Chesney nor his family. He was also ordered to write an apology letter to Chesney, of which has been completed, court documents show.

On Jan. 26, Chesney said in a statement:

‘My focus has always been on keeping my family and the public safe. As this chapter closes, I am especially grateful for the constant support of my wife Kelly and my son Nick, and I hope everyone involved is able to move ahead in a healthier direction.’

On Jan. 21, the Stephenson County State’s Attorney said in a statement:

‘Threats against public servants are not protected speech and they will be taken seriously. This resolution reflects the defendant’s accountability for his actions, while also providing a structured path for continued treatment and supervision to reduce the risk of future harm.’

Click here to read the apology letter.