Beck court dates, trial delayed

Joshua Beck, the former Cook County Health and Human Services director, was scheduled for a second appearance before Judge Michael Cuzzo on Sept. 26. Beck is facing four charges, including domestic assault and engaging in a past pattern of child abuse against a minor.

The Cook County courtroom was vacant except for members of the press as the court proceedings started.

Beck’s attorney in the case is Christa Groshek from Minneapolis, with Grand Marais-based attorney Tyson Smith as co-counsel. Smith is out of the country and Groshek participated by phone.

Beck also participated by phone, but was not asked to speak, other than to give his name.

Assistant Lake County Attorney Lara Nygaard, representing the state of Minnesota in this case against Beck, was in the Cook County courtroom.

The hearing today was to be an omnibus hearing, which is one of the first steps in preparation for trial, however Groshek said she had not received “discovery documents,” namely the transcripts of the First Witness Child Advocacy organization based in Duluth.

Groshek stated that there were concerns that the Beck children may have been “coached” in their statements.

According to court documents obtained by WTIP, in those interviews a 10-year-old child said Beck had been abusing her for years, stating that he calls her names, throws objects at her and uses physical violence toward her. A 12-year-old minor who is also listed in the report, said Beck “likes to cause him pain.”

Prosecution Attorney Nygard said the documents were sent to co-counsel Smith.

However, Smith is also representing Joshua Beck and his wife, Priscilla Beck, in a separate child custody case. Because of the restrictions assigned to the Child Protection cases, Smith did not think he could release the documents to Groshek for the criminal case.

All parties at the Sept. 26 hearing agreed that the documents could be released to Groshek. To give her time to review the documents, the omnibus hearing was rescheduled to Nov. 13 at 2:30 p.m.

At this time it appears the matter will proceed to a jury trial, with a pre-trial conference set for Monday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. and trial tentatively set for Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

Beck was first in court on Sept. 11. That hearing lasted more than an hour and included arguments regarding Beck’s bail. Judge Cuzzo finally ordered that bail be set at $20,000 and that it not be enacted unless Beck violates a series of mandates the court ordered, including that he not contact his children. 

Also present during the September courtroom proceedings was Priscilla Beck. According to social service workers and attorneys who spoke during the hearing, Priscilla and Josh Beck are still married and have intentions to remain married.

However, Josh Beck has returned to Arizona and is employed by Gila County, Arizona. Prior to his arrival in Cook County, Beck worked in the human services department in Gila County. Priscilla, meanwhile, is living in Indiana near her mother, Karen Perkins.

The Beck children are currently living with Priscilla’s mother, Karen Perkins in Indiana. In September, the court agreed that the children should remain in custody of Perkins until Joshua Beck’s charges are determined by the court.

A separate hearing regarding custody or placement of the Beck children is scheduled for Oct. 9.

In yet another related case, Karen Perkins is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24 regarding a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, described in court documents as “brawling or fighting.”