Man charged with bilking Barrington schools of more than $100,000

A Wisconsin man has been charged with a felony count of theft by Barrington Police for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from Barrington Unit School District 220, officials said.

William G. Schwartz, 53, of Burlington, a night maintenance foreman for the school district, has been charged with falsely billing the district for maintenance repair parts through two fictitious parts vendors, Barrington Police said in a news release Wednesday.

District personnel discovered suspicious transactions and reported those transactions to police. School officials worked closely with police to document the fictitious parts, orders and payments, police officials said.

The criminal charge covers a theft amount of between $100,000 and $500,000, officials said. The charge is also enhanced because the theft occurred against a school district and using government funds, officials said.

Schwartz is being held at the Barrington police Department before being shipped to Lake County jail for bond court later Wednesday morning.

Police are still investigating the theft and additional charges could be pending.

If convicted of the felony, he could spend up to 30 years behind bars.