$100,000 bail for ex-Bensenville employee charged with theft

A former Bensenville employee accused of stealing more than $45,000 from village coffers was ordered held Tuesday on $100,000 bail.

Norma Hernandez, 49, of the 300 block of Marshall Street in Bensenville, appeared in DuPage County bond court on a felony theft charge.

Hernandez is accused of pocketing $4,941 from the village's Vehicle Sticker Fund and $41,500 from its Administrative Tow Fees account.

She started taking the money in 2010 by issuing cash refunds to herself from the tow account, Assistant State's Attorney Diane Michalak said. In 2011, Hernandez started stealing cash payments for vehicle stickers without making records of the transaction, Michalak told Judge Elizabeth Sexton in court.

The scheme unraveled when officials discovered $5,000 was missing from the vehicle sticker fund in July, prosecutors said.

Hernandez later admitted to investigators “she would occasionally borrow $20 or $30” but had failed to repay some of the money, Michalak said.

Hernandez, who has no known criminal history, currently faces a felony charge punishable by up to seven years in prison, but prosecutors said they will seek a more serious indictment with a sentencing range of up to 15 years.

Sexton set bail at $100,000, meaning Hernandez would have to post a $10,000 bond to be released. Hernandez, who told the judge she works as a receptionist for a Bloomingdale marketing company, said she probably won't be able to make bond.

Her next court date is Oct. 11 in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.