Sex offender admits working at school as city election judge
COURT | Gets 18 months; name among 10 on list

July 26, 2007
BY ERIC HERMAN Staff Reporter eherman@suntimes.com
A registered sex offender pleaded guilty this week to violating the law by working as an election judge at a Chicago public school.
Tyrone Barber, 57, drew an 18-month sentence Tuesday from Judge Bertina Lampkin for violating the Sex Offender Registration Act, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Lynn McCarthy.

Barber, of the 8000 block of South Parnell, was convicted in 1990 of sexually assaulting a child, McCarthy said. State law prohibits sex offenders from entering school zones.
For the Feb. 27 city election, Barber worked as an election judge at John Hope Preparatory High School in the 5500 block of South Lowe. The polling place is in the 3rd Ward.
"Classes were in session on Feb. 27, 2007, and the defendant was physically present within the school when children under the age of 18 were also present," McCarthy said.

There was, however, "no evidence that he had direct contact with kids," she said.

In April, prosecutors charged sex offender Arnulfo Vallejo with working as an election judge on the grounds of a school. The Board of Elections then compared its list of judges with the Illinois sex offender registry and found nine more matches, including Barber.
Vallejo's case is pending, McCarthy said. Another sex offender, Troy Jordan, pleaded guilty in June and drew a one-year sentence. None of the other election judges had worked on school grounds.
Election judges made $150 in April for working Election Day and attending a training session.