Lake Zurich man denies stealing from widower

A Lake Zurich man accused of stealing from the estate of a woman who died of cancer, and later running up charges on her husband's credit card, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Jon Lindvall, 46, is charged with theft, identity theft and unlawful use of a credit card.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Christen Bishop said Lindvall, the owner of a chain of gift shops in the area, met Robert Larson at church in April 2004 shortly before Larson's wife, Lara, died of cancer at age 36. The family, formerly of Wauconda, now lives in Wisconsin.

Lara Larson suffered from alveolar soft-part sarcoma, and a series of stories in the Daily Herald chronicled her struggle against the disease while trying to care for her husband and seven children.

Lindvall convinced Larson to make him executor of his wife's estate, Bishop said, and to loan him $100,000 from the estate.

However, Bishop said an investigation showed Lindvall took more than $250,000 from the estate.

In addition, after Robert Larson was seriously injured in a car accident in 2005, Lindvall obtained one of his credit cards and is accused of spending about $14,000, Bishop said.

Lindvall, of 503 Prairie Lane, is the owner of the Lindvall Gift Shops chain of stores.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman told Lindvall he faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him, but would also be eligible for probation.

Foreman scheduled a trial of the case for March 2 and ordered Lindvall to appear in court Jan. 30.