Palatine Township GOP Committeeman David Prichard Found Not Guilty After Criminal Trial (Palatine Township, IL) – David A. Prichard, the elected Republican committeeman for Palatine Township, has been found not guilty following a criminal trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
According to a Certified Statement of Conviction/Disposition from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Prichard pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. On July 17, 2026, the court entered a finding of not guilty, meaning he was not convicted of any offense.
Prichard was elected Palatine Township Republican committeeman after defeating George Tuhowski III in the Republican primary. Election results show Prichard received 3,375 votes, or approximately 75% of the vote, while Tuhowski received 1,129 votes, or about 25%. Tuhowski had worked alongside former Palatine Township Republican Committeeman Aaron Del Mar for approximately 15 years and was Del Mar’s endorsed successor.
The criminal case stemmed from allegations that Prichard battered Tuhowski. During the trial, Tuhowski testified regarding the alleged incident. At the conclusion of the proceedings on July 17, the court found that prosecutors had not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt and entered a verdict of not guilty.
Prichard was represented by attorney Frank Avila Jr., who criticized the prosecution following the verdict. Avila said the case should never have been filed, describing the arrest as false and alleging the prosecution was politically motivated. He further argued that the case was intended to damage Prichard’s reputation and leadership of the Palatine Township Republican Organization, characterizing it as an effort to accomplish through the criminal justice system what could not be achieved at the ballot box. Those allegations reflect Avila’s statements following the verdict.
Despite the contentious election, the transition of leadership within the Palatine Township Republican Organization proceeded after the primary. According to the release, former committeeman Aaron Del Mar publicly stated he would work with Prichard to ensure a smooth transition, and both sides coordinated the transfer of party records, committee responsibilities, staffing matters, and other organizational functions.
Palatine Township GOP Committeeman David Prichard Found Not Guilty After Criminal Trial
