UPDATE – Bench Trial Set For Former Oakland Fire Protection District Trustee –

Coles Co. (ECWd) –

Update 6-24-2024:

Kyley Willison appeared in court this afternoon with his attorney. There was some discussion on figuring out restitution, then discussion on setting a bench trial date.

Bench trial set for September 13, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

There was no plea deal.

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Update 6-23-2024:

According to the court docket on Judici, former Oakland Fire Protection District Trustee Kyley Willison is scheduled to appear in Coles County Circuit Court on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 2 p.m. for a status/plea hearing.

Previously he waived his right to a jury trial and the trial setting was vacated.

Former Oakland Fire Protection District Trustee Jerry Willison’s next court date is July 11, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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Coles County has updated the court docket to reflect the specific charges against Kiley and Jerry Willison, former Oakland Fire Protection District trustees who were arrested on March 17, 2023. We first exposed what appeared as a clear misapplication of funds in this article.

Kiley Willison:

• Class 1 Felony – Theft >$100,000.00 – $500,000.00 – 720 ILCS 5/16·1(a)(1)(A)
  • (720 ILCS 5/16-1) Theft.
    (a) A person commits theft when he or she knowingly:
    (1) Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the owner;
    (A) Intends to deprive the owner permanently of the use or benefit of the property;
• Class 4 Felony – Unlawful possession of credit card – 720 ILSC 5/17-32B
  • 720 ILCS 5/17-32(b) – Possession of another’s credit, debit, or identification card.
    (b) Possession of another’s credit or debit card. A person commits possession of another’s credit or debit card when he or she receives a credit card or debit card from the person, possession, custody, or control of another without the cardholder’s consent or if he or she, with knowledge that it has been so acquired, receives the credit card or debit card with the intent to use it or to sell it, or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer or the cardholder. The trier of fact may infer that a person who has in his or her possession or under his or her control 2 or more such credit cards or debit cards each issued to a cardholder other than himself or herself has violated this Section.
• Class 3 Felony – 2 Counts -Official Misconduct with intent to obtain personal advantage – 720 ILCS 5/33-3(a)(3)
  • (720 ILCS 5/33-3) Official misconduct.
    (a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:
    (3) With intent to obtain a personal advantage for himself or another, he performs an act in excess of his lawful authority;
• Class 3 Felony – Official Misconduct – Knowingly performs an act which he knows he is forbidden by law to perform 720 ILCS 5/33-3(a)(2)
  • (720 ILCS 5/33-3) – Official misconduct.
    (a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:
    (2) Knowingly performs an act which he knows he is forbidden by law to perform; or
• Class 3 Felony – 6 Counts – Official Misconduct – Intentionally or recklessly fails to perform any mandatory duty as required by law 720 ILCS 5/33-3(a)(1)
  • (720 ILCS 5/33-3) – Official misconduct.
    (a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:
    (1) Intentionally or recklessly fails to perform any mandatory duty as required by law;

Jerry Willison:

• Class 3 Felony – 1 Count -Official Misconduct with intent to obtain personal advantage – 720 ILCS 5/33-3(a)(3)
  • (720 ILCS 5/33-3) Official misconduct.
    (a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:
    (3) With intent to obtain a personal advantage for himself or another, he performs an act in excess of his lawful authority;
• Class 3 Felony – 6 Counts – Official Misconduct – Intentionally or recklessly fails to perform any mandatory duty as required by law 720 ILCS 5/33-3(a)(1)
  • (720 ILCS 5/33-3) – Official misconduct.
    (a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:
    (1) Intentionally or recklessly fails to perform any mandatory duty as required by law;