LeMaire Pleads Guilty To Theft—Must Repay Stolen Funds To City
Stephen LeMaire, former streets superintendent, changed his not guilty plea to guilty for a probation and community service sentence.
Former Geneva Street Superintendant Stephen LeMaire pleaded guilty to theft, a Class 1 felony, and agreed to repay the more than $28,000 he reportedly stole from the city using his department's credit card for personal purchases.
LeMaire, 55, of the 400 block of Banbury Avenue, Elburn, previously pleaded not guilty last March, but changed that plea to guilty in court on June 29. LeMaire was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' probation and 100 hours of community service for the guilty plea.
LeMaire will also be paying the City of Geneva $28,478.10 in restitution in payments of at least $200 every month until paid.
As previously reported in Patch, the city credit card charges were discovered when Geneva Public Works Director Dan Dinges checked on some of LeMaire's expenditures while LeMaire was on vacation.
LeMaire was suspended from work on Jan. 12 and fired from his position on Feb. 4. He had worked with the city's Public Works Department for 33 years.
JMZ
9:41 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
So almost 12 years of payments at $200 per month and only 100 hours (about 2 1/2 weeks) of community service for STEALING from all of us in Geneva? Doesn't a Class 1 felony usually come with some jail time? Not that I'm interested in paying for Mr. LeMaire's care in jail. This is not much of a penalty at all for stealing from the public, is it? Shame on you, Steve LeMaire.
JMZ
10:12 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
By the way, not that it matters, but the 400 Block of Banbury is actually in Elburn.
Sandy Kaczmarski
7:42 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Thanks for the correction, JMZ.
Russell
7:49 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
I would like to know if Stephen LeMaire will reveive his retirement money ?
Rick Anderson
10:51 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
We will never know because we will be told it is not our business to know.
Chad Baker
9:19 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
The real crime is that in the City of Geneva had expense reporting procedures that allowed this to go on for 8 years.
Julie
12:48 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Give me a break! One would get more jail time for illegally downloading one darn song from the internet. I'm not sure why my tax bill keeps going up if Geneva doesn't need this money back right away. Chad, you are exactly right! 8 years of not paying attention..big surprise. I wonder what else the COG fails to recognize.
Jason K. Pavela
12:52 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
I really liked what Chad Baker had to say. I'll certainly be using my votes in the next elections to help eliminate the potential for further corruption via deficient procedures.
JMZ
8:58 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I just read in the Kane County Chronicle an article detailing the purchases Mr. Lemaire made for his personal use. It also mentioned he will NOT be receiving a pension. This is at least some good news for the citizens of Geneva. He was paid over $98K per year and still felt the need to steal - unbelievable. Here's the link (I hope): http://www.kcchronicle.com/2012/07/11/lemaires-big-spending-unveiled/ae5bhva/
QRS
11:28 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Good article in the Chronicle. 200 bucks a month to pay off 28,000 he took amounts to a 12 year, no-interest loan courtesy of the Geneva taxpayers.
A better solution would be to confiscate the 600 dollar jackets, watches, 300 dollar sunglasses, etc - sell them at auction - and make Lemaire pay off the balance within 90 days (let him find his own loan, if needed)
Bob McQuillan
12:14 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
QRS
Raffle the merchandise off, free of charge, to Geneva residents because we already paid for the merchandise with our tax dollars.
I feel sorry for this guy's family but too many people had to know something wasn't right.