DeKalb Times

The state association representing county sheriffs says DeKalb County Judge Marcy Buick erred in releasing Nathan Sweeney from jail.

The Illinois State Sheriff's Association issued a statement Monday that it was "very disappointed" Judge Buick released Sweeney, who was arrested for reckless homicide and driving under the influence last week in connection with the death of DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Deputy Christina Musil.

"Obviously, we are very disappointed that Sweeney was released despite the Dekalb County States’ Attorney request to detain. This evaluation was made under the Pretrial Fairness Act, which went into effect 9/18/23, that was a part of the SAFE T Act passed in January 2021," the statement said.

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Deputy Christina Musil | GoFundMe Page

DeKalb resident Sweeney, 44, was arrested in Ogle County on March 28, after he slammed his semi truck into Musil's squad Ford Explorer in Waterman. The crash occurred around 10:40 p.m. on Illinois Route 23, south of Perry Road.

Musil, age 35, was a single mother of three who joined the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office in 2019. She previously served in the National Guard and spent 2008-09 in Afghanistan.

Buick, of Sycamore, is a circuit court judge in the 23rd Judicial Court, which includes DeKalb and Kendall Counties. Formerly an associate judge (2011-2021), she was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2021.

Formerly a lawyer with Foster & Buick of Sycamore, Buick graduated from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1986 and Northern Illinois College of Law in 1990.

A fundraiser to support the children of Musil had raised $287,761 as of Tuesday morning.

The president of the Illinois Sheriff's Association is Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird. DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Sullivan serves on the group's executive committee.