Lake County authorities say criminal charges have been filed against a former coroner’s deputy who they say secretly recorded a video as she notified a juvenile that a relative had been killed in a motorcycle accident.

       Former Coroner’s Deputy Dana Dingman, 36, of Grayslake, has been charged with official misconduct and violation of the state’s eavesdropping laws for allegedly making a surreptitious video on a cellphone, Coroner Jennifer Banek said Wednesday.

       The video was discovered on Dingman’s county-issued laptop computer in late April, and the matter was referred to the sheriff and the state’s attorney for investigation and review, Banek said. That investigation resulted in charges announced Wednesday in a grand jury indictment.

       Dingman was terminated from her job in mid June, authorities said. She had been a coroner’s deputy for more than two years at the time of her dismissal, according to the sheriff’s department.

       She could not immediately be reached for comment.

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       Authorities said that Dingman was notifying the juvenile of a family member’s death in July 2018 when she made a video recording of the encounter from a cellphone, which was then stored on the laptop. The recording was made without the knowledge of the person who was being recorded, authorities said.

       “I am appalled at the discovery of this video,” Banek said in a statement released Wednesday. “There is no reason for the employee in question to have violated the public’s trust by surreptitiously recording them during such an emotional and private moment.”

       She added, “Finding out a loved one has died is a family’s worst moment, and our staff is expected to conduct their duties with the utmost care, respect and compassion.”

       It is believed to be an isolated occurrence, said Banek, who was elected coroner in 2020.

       Dingman is scheduled to be arraigned July 22, according to court records.

       Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.

       Former Lake County coroner’s deputy charged with recording juvenile while notifying them of relative’s death

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