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Iroquois County Clerk
Indicted on Multiple Felony Charges
Dec-14-07
Iroquois County Clerk Mark Henrichs has been indicted by a grand jury
on multiple felony charges following a six-month investigation by the
Illinois Attorney General’s office. The charges are centered on the
alleged theft of $17,500 in taxpayer's money used for the purchase
of a mobile voting unit.
Henrichs, 51, promoted the purchase of a 1996 Holiday Rambler trailer
by the Iroquois County Board for more than twice its appraised value but
allegedly hid the fact that Henrichs himself was the true owner.
According to court documents Henrichs mislead the board into believing a
Chicago-area auto dealership owned the trailer.
The attorney general's office confirmed Dec. 6 it would prosecute the
long-standing clerk on two counts of felony theft of government
property, two counts of forgery and four counts of official misconduct.
The most serious charge – a Class 1 felony for theft of government
property – alleges Henrichs obtained control by deception over a check
for $17,500 from the county after creating the false impression that the
county clerk's office would be purchasing the trailer from Expert Auto
Sales in Chicago. If convicted, the six foot nine inch Henrichs could
face four to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $25,000.
The second count of theft – a Class 2 felony – accuses Henrichs of
obtaining a check from the county for $7,749, which the indictment says
was a portion of the $17,500 proceeds to Expert Auto Sales.
The Class 3 forgery charges allege that Henrichs filled out and
delivered an Expert Auto Sales bill of sale to make it appear the
business sold the trailer to the county clerk's office. The indictment
claims he knew the business had not.
The Class 3 official misconduct charges allege Henrichs knowingly
committed theft on or about Feb. 1, 2007, using his official capacity to
perform an illegal act.
Henrichs, a former all-state high school basketball player, won a
four-way GOP primary in the 1998 election to replace longtime County
Clerk John Kuntz, who retired. In 2002, He easily won re-election
against longtime Democratic Sheriff Joe Mathy, who had decided not to
seek a sixth term as sheriff.
No warrant has been issued. Henrichs is scheduled to be arraigned
Jan. 10 in circuit court in Watseka, after which he will report to the
sheriff's department for booking.
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