What can happen when the world's oldest profession meets the second oldest!

Former county volunteer faces prositution charges
By Betsy Lopez
June 9, 2011

A Sycamore attorney who volunteered her time in the Boone County Public Defender’s office has been charged with three counts of prostitution in DeKalb County.

Reema N. Bajaj, 25, voluntarily represented offenders on behalf of the Public Defender’s office from November until May 31, when she turned herself in after a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The county gave her office space in exchange for her volunteer service, said Boone County Public Defender Azhar Minhas.

Bajaj had previous experience in the office as a third year law clerk through an externship with Boone County while working as a student under a special license.

“She was not a paid employee, that’s one thing (we) have to make very clear,” Minhas said. “She was picking up some experience, donating her time on a voluntary basis and that arrangement came to an end as soon as we were advised of the charges.

The DeKalb Police Department had been working on an unrelated case when it became aware of activities in which police believe Bajaj was engaged in most recently on August 13 and May 10, said DeKalb Police Lt. Gary Spangler. Bajaj posted bond after turning herself into authorities.

DeKalb police obtained e-mails Bajaj sent to an individual “and it was quite obvious from the content of the e-mails she had arranged for encounters for money,” Spangler said. “There were pictures with the e-mails and we were able to identify (Bajaj). From there we were able to get other e-mails which connected her to other individuals regarding prostitution.”

The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s office is working with DeKalb Police on the ongoing investigation. One of the three counts is a felony charge, the other two are misdemeanors, said Julie Trevarthan, an DeKalb Assistant State’s Attorney.

The DeKalb State’s Attorney’s office said a complaint was filed with the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, an arm of the Illinois Supreme Court, which is responsible for receiving any complaints as to an attorney’s conduct that could violate rules of ethics.

“As attorneys we have a mandatory duty to report her, which has been done,” Trevarthan said. “What happens with her law license is completely separate from our court proceedings.”

Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier said there’s no reason to believe Bajaj was involved in similar activities locally.

Bajaj’s website describes her as handling cases in DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Ogle, Kane, McHenry and DuPage counties and having a law office at 1210 E. State Street in Sycamore. She’s due in court July 14 for a status hearing.

“I haven’t received any sort of indications that it occurred in Boone County,” Courier said. “At this point my office wouldn’t be involved in it.”

Check back to rrstar.com for more.

Staff writer Betsy Lopez can be reached at blopez@rrstar.com or 815-544-3452.

Betsy Lopez

Register Star reporter Betsy Lopez has been your source for Boone County news and photos since early 2009. The Columbia College Chicago graduate is fluent in Spanish and came here in 2007 to work for our Spanish-language newspaper at that time, Espejo. Here, she’ll give you insight into Boone County and Belvidere government, local law enforcement, the county’s two school districts and area happenings from Caledonia to Capron.