Political figure denies theft from mother

A perennial Lake County political candidate pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he stole $190,000 from his mother.

Steven Skinner, 49, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of financial exploitation of an elderly person and theft.

Skinner, a former Round Lake Area Public Library District board member who ran for a variety of other offices, is accused of writing checks from his mother's bank accounts to pay his own bills.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said Skinner, of the 39000 block of North Woodside Avenue in Antioch Township, took control of his 80-year-old mother's accounts in 2004.

Between 2004 and 2008, Hoffert said, Skinner wrote checks to pay bills and buy a house.

A relative discovered the thefts and called police, Hoffert said.

Skinner ran unsuccessfully for the state House 52nd District seat in 2002, county board seats in 2003 and 2008 and for mayor of Round Lake in 2005.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a trial of the case for Sept. 21 and told Skinner, who is free after posting $5,000 for bond, to appear in court Aug. 25.