Chicago Ald. Ricardo Munoz was found not guilty of misdemeanor domestic battery Thursday, months after he was charged in an alleged altercation with his wife on New Year's Eve.
The finding came during a short trial with Judge Callie Baird Thursday, a court representative confirmed.
Munoz, who had represented the 22nd Ward since 1993 before deciding not to seek re-election, was arrested after an argument with his wife in which police said Munoz "pushed and struck the victim throughout the body."
The one-time long-serving member of the Chicago City Council was arrested without incident at his ward office in the 2500 block of South St. Louis in the Little Village neighborhood, authorities said. Munoz was later charged with misdemeanor domestic battery, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office.
His wife asked the judge to order Munoz to stay away from their residence and their dog Rambo, a request the judge granted.
A few days later, Munoz checked into rehab in Indiana.
He already announced last summer that he wouldn't run again. Before that, he went public with his struggles with alcohol.
This was not Munoz's first brush with the law. He has publicly spoken about his arrest as a teenager on drug and gun charges, which were later expunged. Now sober, Munoz has also opened up about his addiction to alcohol.
Sworn into office in 1993, Munoz was appointed alderman by then mayor Richard Daley to replace Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who moved on to the Illinois State Senate.
Michael Rodriguez was elected in February to replace Munoz as 22nd Ward alderman.
