Trial canceled in Beck case following settlement

A long-anticipated trial in the criminal case involving former Cook County Health and Human Services Director Josh Beck is no longer scheduled to take place. The cancellation of the trial is the direct result of a confidential settlement involving Beck’s legal team and state prosecutors.

Court records show a petition to enter a guilty plea was submitted Dec. 15 by Beck and his legal team in the Lake County Courtroom in Two Harbors. Terms of the plea will remain confidential, at least temporarily, until Judge Michael Cuzzo determines the appropriate time to release them. It is possible Cuzzo could withhold the terms of the settlement and never make it public information. A decision on what information will be shared publicly will be made in January, according to courtroom officials.

As the settlement was confidential, it remains unknown if Beck will face any jail or prison time as part of the plea. WTIP contacted the Lake County Jail on Dec. 19 and Beck was not listed on the inmate roster. A search of other regional jails also did not list Beck in custody.  

In a phone conversation with WTIP, Grand Marais-based Attorney Tyson Smith, who represented Beck in the case, said he had no comment.

Prior to the guilty plea, Beck was facing four charges, including domestic assault and engaging in a past pattern of child abuse against a minor.

Beck was scheduled for a pre-trial date in the Lake County Courthouse Jan. 24, with a trial to start five days later. Those dates were canceled after the confidential settlement agreement took place Dec. 15.

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.

It also remains unknown who maintains custody of the Beck children. Prior to the settlement, the Beck children were 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.

According to court officials in Cook County, both the custody case involving the Beck children as well as the criminal charges against Josh Beck were settled during the legal conference Dec. 15.

Prior to the settlement, Beck had returned to the desert Southwest and is employed by Gila County, Arizona. The Gila County website lists Beck as the public health emergency preparedness manager. Prior to his arrival in Cook County, Beck worked in county government in Gila County.

In Minnesota, Beck was the director of the Cook County Health and Humans Services Department before he resigned in late July. His charges were filed in Cook County approximately one week later. His tenure with the county lasted less than one year.