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.

Boone County Watchdog :

“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.

Boone County Watchdog –

“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.