Former judge’s son pleads guilty to domestic battery

A former Will County judge’s son pleaded guilty on Wednesday to battering his ex-wife, whom he was previously convicted of attacking in 2014.

Judge Ed Burmila has not yet decided his sentence for Louis Goode, 35, who requested leniency after he pleaded guilty battering his ex-wife on Oct. 12, 2018. Three other domestic battery counts were dismissed by the prosecution.

Burmila is scheduled to sentence Goode Feb. 26. Goode is the son of former Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes.

Goode faces up to six years in prison. He is also eligible for probation.

Goode’s ex-wife gave a statement in court Wednesday where she said Goode was physically, mentally and emotionally abusive toward her.

“Never did I ever deserve how he treated me,” she said.

Goode said he wished to apologize to his ex-wife.

“I failed to keep my commitments to her and to our marriage,” he said.

Goode requested leniency from Burmila and said he has been struggling with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. He said he has been employed and receiving treatment and did not want to go to prison as that would be a step backward in his life.

Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Vukmir said the evidence in the case would show that Goode and his ex-wife were traveling in a car at the time of the incident when they got into an argument that led to him hitting her.

Vukmir said Goode had struck his ex-wife in the face, which caused her glasses to scratch her face, grabbed her ponytail, thrashed her head, threw her out of the car and then drove away, leaving her alone in a parking lot.

Vukmir asked Burmila to deliver Goode a lengthy prison sentence based on the nature of his offense and his inability to fulfill the terms of probation in other cases. Vukmir also noted the 2019 incident where Goode failed to make a court appearance for drug testing and was apprehended five months later in Colorado.

Goode’s attorney, George Lenard, his client is a different person than he was in the past and has shown he can make changes in his life by staying employed and receiving counseling.

Lenard asked for Goode to receive a sentence where he would receive credit for the time he already served incarcerated so he won’t have to serve any more time in prison. He asked Burmila what good would be served to society, Goode, his child and his ex-wife by having him locked up.

Policandriotes told Burmila about Goode’s struggles with alcoholism and addiction. She said he has been able to receive medication for his mental health issues.

“I do know that he has the tools, he has the ability and he has the momentum now to keep going forward,” she said.

Policandriotes said she and her husband, Anthony Policandriotes, have guardianship of the child of Goode and his ex-wife.

Goode’s ex-wife filed a petition to terminate that guardianship in a 2018 probate case that remains under seal from public view, according to court records. On Sept. 4, Policandriotes and her husband filed a petition for allocation of parental rights and responsibilities that was also sealed.