Boone Co. (ECWd) –
The Boone County clerk and Recorder Julie Bliss has been arrested and charged with alleged felony theft of government property and official misconduct according to multiple reports.
“In a statement to the media, the county said “the misuse of public funds is an abuse of power and a violation of the public trust that will not be tolerated. The Boone County Board and Boone County Administration are fully committed to cooperating with the Illinois State Police and with Sikich, LLP, in order to provide the public with a full, accurate, and transparent accounting of the outcome of this investigation, and to restore the public’s trust in our County officials.”
13WREX –
“In April of 2023, an employee of the Boone County Clerk’s Office reported irregularities that she had discovered in two of the County Clerk’s bank accounts.”
“Upon receiving that report, Boone County officials immediately notified the Illinois State Police, and took appropriate steps to ensure fiscal oversight of the Clerk’s office during the course of the investigation.”
23WIFR –
“In a statement to the media, the county said “the misuse of public funds is an abuse of power and a violation of the public trust that will not be tolerated. The Boone County Board and Boone County Administration are fully committed to cooperating with the Illinois State Police and with Sikich, LLP, in order to provide the public with a full, accurate, and transparent accounting of the outcome of this investigation, and to restore the public’s trust in our County officials.”
“If convicted, Bliss could face more than 10 years in prison, however county leaders say both charges could also carry sentences of probation only.”
Boone County is not a newcomer to criminal investigations and prosecutions of public officials.
“Osoria, 58, pleaded guilty to felony theft on Dec. 4, 2014” “Former Boone County employee Donna Osoria was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday for stealing more than $24,000 in bond money while working in the circuit clerk’s office.”
“She claimed she stole the money to help her mother pay rent.”
“She just needed my help and if she hadn’t needed my help I wouldn’t be here right now,” Osoria said. “I’m not a bad person I just made a really, really, really, really bad mistake. And in turn that mistake cost me just about everything that mattered to me.”
“However, Osoria’s mother died in 2011 and thefts continued well into 2012. Judge Robert Tobin called Osoria’s systematic approach to stealing bond money and covering her tracks a “true act of a criminal mind”
“A mistake is different than an ongoing theft, and this is behavior that went on for 27 months,” said Special Prosecutor Chuck Colburn. “That goes beyond a mistake. This is a criminal enterprise that went on and on and on.”
We are pleased to see more people willing to speak up and call out corruption in the government workplace. When the police do their job and prosecutors actually prosecute public corruption we believe more people will report such irregularities.
2 Comments
John Doe
Posted at 14:09h, 01 SeptemberIf the Boone County IL. Officials were really and truly against county employees engaging in acts that violate the publics trust….1. They never would have let Scott Yunk run for Boone County Sheriff because there is no transparency in him or integrity in that office now.that Sheriff Earnest has left.
They also would have let Deputy Sheriff Steve Tallecksin go along time ago when proof and evidence was ignored showing how he engaged in tactics they were considered perjury and deceiving when lying in sworn statements to get warrants on cases to boost his arrest rate.
Also when he engaged in knowingly asking persons not involved in cases he investigates to make sworn statements stating they were…
Not to mention others in that department that needed to be cleansed along time ago as well as in the Belvidere Police Dept. Starting with the corrupt lack of internal insight, and no transparency Chief Woody. Because that position lost its creds when Chief Noble left.
Everyone wants to turn a blind eye in Boo e County when it’s there cronies who are more the criminals than the actual people.
So no I don’t believe the County really cares but they have to save face making statements they do.
Then you have a Sheriff Scott Yunk who knowingly watches his own Son in public at the Hyde Out slap rear ends of women, touch and make such inappropriate comments while his Sheriff father sits there egging him on and watching these crimes to woman be done right in front of him….
Now what would happened if the average Joe did that to his wife or daughter mmm…yeah we know where this goes!!
John Doe
Posted at 10:12h, 03 SeptemberIm pretty sure the Sheriffs son knows these women or they would be saying something your complaints are out of line and not true