On Monday, February 13, 2023, Sheriff Lee Hilty was contacted by the Henry County Circuit Clerk with questions on some cash bonds they had not received from St Clair County.  Sheriff Hilty began looking into the cause and discovered an employee was stealing money from cash bond deposits.     

The employee was interviewed and admitted to the theft.  Sheriff Hilty placed the employee on leave and requested the Henry County Sheriff's Office assist in the investigation.  Sheriff J. Kent Oberkrom conducted a financial review/investigation of the accounts in question.  

When Sheriff Oberkrom finished his review/investigation, it was discovered the employee had been stealing small amounts of the cash bonds even before Sheriff Hilty took over in 2021. 

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the employee was called in and terminated.  A detective reinterviewed the employee.   The employee was arrested, booked and released, which is a court rule for subjects not posing a threat to citizens or a flight risk, on Felony Stealing charges.   Formal charges will be sent to the St Clair County Prosecuting Attorney, Daniel Dysart.    

Sheriff Hilty wishes to thank Henry County Sheriff J. Kent Oberkrom for his time and efforts investigating this theft.  Sheriff Oberkrom is also assisting in updating the St Clair County Sheriff's Office book keeping system.  Sheriff Hilty stated "we have addressed newly found loopholes in the book keeping system and will be tightening the security surrounding cash money received into the Sheriff's Office".