The Tuesday sentencing of Foss Park District board member Susan Dixon ended the 2014 North Chicago Toys for Tots theft case, but also drove home a striking statistic: Three of the five sitting Foss Park District board members either have been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, criminal offenses in the last year and a half.
A jury convicted Dixon of theft March 31 for stealing toys at a 2014 Toys for Tots holiday distribution event at the park district. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 125 hours of public service.
Less than two weeks after Dixon was convicted, fellow board member Jimmy Baldwin — who had also faced felony theft charges from the Toys for Tots distribution — avoided trial by accepting a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation and 100 hours of public service.
In February 2015, Foss Park District Board President Donna King pleaded guilty to one count of disregarding the election code, a misdemeanor, for voting twice in the 2014 primary election. She was sentenced to court supervision and given a $100 fine and 20 hours of community service. Her guilty plea did not result in a conviction after she successfully completed court supervision.
All three potentially could have faced jail time as a result of the charges.
Attempts to reach Foss Park District Executive Director Kari Cowart were unsuccessful Wednesday. It is not known whether the board will formally address the convictions.
State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim said the convictions of Dixon and Baldwin should put public officials on notice.
“I can think of few things worse than taking toys from needy children and jeopardizing such a worthy program,” Nerheim said. “We will continue to root out and prosecute those who betray the public’s trust. Elected officials are all answerable to the law and ultimately the electorate.”
In all, six defendants were initially charged in connection with the Toys for Tots theft.
Charges were dropped against three, Dixon was convicted and Baldwin and another defendant pleaded guilty under negotiated pleas.
North Chicago police initiated the investigation after being contacted in early 2015 by officials of the Foss Park District, who provided police with surveillance video from the event.
The investigation and subsequent charges led the Marine Corps Reserve to cut ties with the park district for future Toys for Tots events.
At the time of that announcement by the Marine Corps, Foss Board Vice President Vance Wyatt, who was not a subject of the investigation, said the district would work to restore its image.
“We are disappointed that this has occurred and will work hard to restore the Marine Corp Reserve’s trust in our agency for a future partnership,” he said.
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