Former Health Dept. officials deny theft charges

Two former Lake County Health Department officials pleaded not guilty to charges they stole $86,500 by accepting pay for hours they did not work.

Thomas Job, 65, of Spring Grove, and Richard Morelli, 59, of Highland Park, face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of theft of government property and official misconduct.

Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Demartini said the pair, who both worked in the Addictions Treatment Program division of the department, operated the scheme for more than two years.

Job, who was hired in 1990, served as the rehabilitation coordinator, and Morelli, an employee since 1991, was the detoxification coordinator.

The pair devised a way to circumvent the time-keeping function of the access cards employees use to enter and leave the department's office building on Grand Avenue in Gurnee, Demartini said.

The method allowed the two to make it appear they were in the building and on the job at times they were not, he said.

Other health department officials discovered the scheme and placed both on administrative leave in August. Neither is still employed with the county.

An investigation by the county state's attorney's office determined Morelli was paid $46,619 for time he did not work and that Job was overpaid $39,875.

They were charged in January and each man posted $5,000 for bond shortly after the arrests.

Associate Judge George Bridges scheduled a trial of the case for May 3 and ordered the two to appear in court again March 30.

In addition to the possibility of prison sentences, each man could be sentenced to probation and local jail time if convicted of the charges.