Kane County coroner dies; had liver transplant in June

(MCT) — Kane County Coroner Charles West died early Wednesday of complications following liver transplant surgery, according to his family.

West had been awaiting trial on felony misconduct charges. He was accused of allowing two of his deputies, including his son, to take a television set from the home of a man whose death was being investigated by West's office.

West, however, had not appeared at pretrial hearings in months. He took medical leave from the coroner's office in April and had been at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago since having the liver transplant June 4, said his sister-in-law Adrienne Kalmes.

West had been suffering from cirrhosis that was not related to alcohol use, his attorney, Gary Johnson, said in June.

The charges against West stemmed from an investigation into the death of a Carpentersville man in 2007. Authorities said that when West was unable to locate any next of kin for the man, he gave the TV to his son and another deputy, who were living together. Authorities alleged that violated state law, which directs coroners in such situations to properly dispose of valuable property.