A former park district honcho has found himself on the hot seat, facing a slew of charges over allegedly using public funds as a personal piggy bank. Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that Randall Grace, previously at the helm of Tolono Park District, swiped around $25,000 meant for public coffers to splash on personal items.
Grace, 63, has been slammed with one count of theft of government property, a Class 1 felony that could see him behind bars for not more than 15 years. Matching up with three additional counts of the same charge, the stakes rise with each Class 2 felony threatening up to seven years of jail time apiece. Four counts of official misconduct are piling on, with Class 3 felonies that could net up to five years each in the clink.
The drama unfolds with an added twist, a forgery charge, yet another Class 3 felony, dangling a maximum of five years in prison over Grace's head. Grace is teed up for another day in court on April 3, where his fate will edge closer to resolution.
During a period stretching from the start of 2015 to the tail end of 2021, authorities allege the former Tolono Park District top dog used the district's credit card, bank accounts, and rebate coupons to nab goods and services for his own enjoyment. It all came tumbling down after the Illinois State Police joined forces with the Attorney General's office, combing through evidence that laid bare the supposed abuse of public trust.
ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly spoke out on the systemic plunder, stating, "Through interviews, purchase documentation review, and other investigative procedures, the ISP Special Investigations Unit identified alleged patterns of abuse and the mishandling of funds by the former Tolono Park District Director." He emphasized the necessity of trust between the public and their servants, vowing continual collaboration with Raoul's office to tackle theft and misconduct.
While the courts prepare their scales, the public is urged to remember that Grace remains under the presumption of innocence unless proved otherwise. With Assistant Attorneys General Haley Bookhout and Tim Nimrod on the case for Raoul’s Public Integrity Bureau, the judicial gears are in motion for a thorough examination.
For more details on the charges, visit the Illinois Attorney General's official announcement.
