Judge considers charges in ex-Island Lake mayor wife's case

The Lake County judge overseeing the criminal case against Island Lake employee Sharon Hyde could decide next month whether to reconsider dismissing the charges.

Hyde, the wife of former Mayor Thomas Hyde, is charged with theft of government property, official misconduct and making false entries in what prosecutors have described as a ghost-payrolling scheme involving her job as director of the village-owned Creative Playtime Preschool.

Hyde's attorney, Charles Smith, has insisted Hyde is a salaried employee who did nothing wrong. On Wednesday, Smith said a resolution approved by the village board in March backs up that claim, and he asked Judge Fred Foreman to reconsider his earlier decision not to dismiss the case.

Assistant State's Attorney Christen Bishop disagreed. Foreman could decide Aug. 25 whether to reconsider the decision.