Update: Deerfield Woman Ordered Held Without Bond

(Update at 3:15 p.m.) The Deerfield woman charged with two felony counts of stalking St. Sabina Pastor Michael Pfleger was ordered held without bond today by Cook County Criminal Court Judge Edward Harmening in Chicago.

Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Lorraine Scadoto argued successfully that Lorraine Kuzniar, 55, of Deerfield was a threat to Pfleger because of her excessive stalking. She will be held without bond in Cook County Jail.

According to statements made in court, Kuzniar believes priests should have the right to marry and claims she has fallen in love with Pfleger. She is the mother of two children. She returns to court Monday.

(Earlier at 10:46 a.m.) A Deerfield woman was charged with two counts of felony stalking of Father Michael Pfleger Monday after entering the St. Sabina Church Sunday in Chicago violating of a protection order, according to Chicago Police Officer Laura Kubiak.

Lidia Kuzniar, 55, of Deerfield was arrested Sunday on a complaint signed by Father Pfleger after she entered St. Sabina Church at 1210 West 78th Place in Chicago after she had been warned to stay away, according to Kubiak.

Kuzniar is charged with aggravated stalking, a Class 3 felony, and stalking to cause fear for safety, a Class 4 felony, according to Kubiak. A Class 3 charge is punishable by two to five years in prison. She could receive one to three years for the second claim.

During Sunday services at St. Sabina, Kuzniar was reported to have caused a disruption and refused to leave, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune. She was arrested at the church on two other occasions—Nov. 8 for trespassing and Nov. 11 for misdemeanor stalking and trespassing.

"It's been an issue that's developed here over the last six to eight weeks," Pfleger said in the Tribune article. "It's just progressed and gotten more serious. It's very disturbing. People really felt threatened." She was not armed. She interrupted services three Sundays in a row and refused to leave his office.

Pfleger has been pastor at St. Sabina for more than 30 years, according to information on the St. Sabina website. He has actively campaigned from his pulpit against gun violence, drugs and other issues he considers social ills.

Kuzniar remains in custody and will appear for a bond hearing at 11:45 a.m. today in Cook County Criminal Court, according to Cook County State’s Attorney spokesperson Andy Conklin.

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