Hynes campaign worker with felony record resigns

A consultant with Dan Hynes' campaign for governor has resigned after staffers learned that he'd done time for stealing $100,000 in government grant money.

William Norels was a part-time consultant with the campaign and helped to coordinate events in African-American neighborhoods.

In 1998, prosecutors alleged that he misappropriated state grant money that was supposed to be lent out to businesses. He pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge and served about nine months of a two-year sentence.

Hynes campaign spokesman Matt McGrath says Norels was paid $15,000 for work in October, November and December.

McGrath says the campaign asked Norels to resign when his conviction came to light.

No published telephone listing for Norels could be found.