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Former Crestwood Officials Get Probation In Tainted-Water Case

CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge has blamed an uncharged ex-mayor as she declined to imprison two former water officials for lying about mixing tainted well water into the Chicago suburb's drinking supply.

Judge Joan Gottschall sentenced both Theresa Neubauer and Frank Scaccia Thursday to two years' probation.

Gottschall said the ailing Scaccia would likely die in prison and she called Neubauer "a low-level soldier" in a scheme led by then-Crestwood Mayor Chester Stranczek.

The judgel said she understood Stranczek's own deteriorating health made filing charges against him impossible.

Crestwood mixed the contaminated water with cleaner but pricier water.

Prosecutors said Stranczek wanted to score political points by pointing to low village water rates.

There's no telephone listing for Stranczek in Crestwood. His former attorney says he no longer represents Stranczek.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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