Warrenville alderman resigns after pleading guilty to multiple scams

Christopher Halley's brief and colorful career as a politician ended Friday when the now-former Warrenville alderman pleaded guilty to an array of charges stemming from multiple scams that defrauded acquaintances out of more than $3,000.

Halley agreed to resign as an alderman effective immediately as part of a plea arrangement that also netted him a 94-day jail sentence and two years of probation. DuPage County Judge George Bakalis also ordered a previous bond payment to go toward paying back Halley's multiple victims.

The 27-year-old answered only "Yes, sir" to Bakalis' questions in court, and offered no explanation for his actions. In all, he pleaded guilty to three felony counts and three misdemeanors.

"I don't know if you have psychological problems," Bakalis said. "But what you did discredits a lot of people in public service."

Halley was accused of scamming acquaintances out of hundreds of dollars each with promises of tickets to sporting events or the opportunity to hobnob with political heavyweights.

Prosecutor Helen Kapas Erdman said Halley would often use his position as alderman as a way of convincing his victims to turn over their cash. She said one of the victims told investigators that Halley assured her that she would receive Chicago Bears tickets that he promised because he held elected office.

"I'm an alderman. You can trust me," Erdman said Halley told one of the victims.

He was initially arrested in March and charged with theft after he borrowed $1,500 from an acquaintance and after being hounded for repayment, Halley wrote a check on a closed account. He told the acquaintance that he needed the money to bail his younger brother out of jail in Arizona.

In January, Erdman said Halley finagled $500 out of an area real estate agent who Halley promised tickets to a meet and greet with former President George W. Bush. As the real estate agent became impatient about the absence of tickets, Halley promised additional tickets because of the delay and a Warrenville "badge."

"He told the man, 'You know, it's like a get-out-of-jail-free card,'" Erdman said.

Another of Halley's victims was promised four tickets to one of the Chicago Blackhawks championship games earlier this year. Halley was paid $650, Erdman said. He never delivered the tickets.

Two women were conned out of $100 each for luxury suite tickets at a Chicago Bears games that Halley never handed over as well, Erdman said.

Halley also convinced the owner of a Warrenville tobacco shop to let the alderman have nearly $100 worth of merchandise and later paid the man with checks that bounced.

Halley was also ordered to pay back $329 to a man who said he paid Halley that amount to secure a job with a local union. Halley was not charged in that incident.

Halley is expected to be released from jail today after serving half of the jail sentence. He has been behind bars since Aug. 17 following his second arrest in a year. Once released, Halley has five days to turn over all official city materials including keys, identification cards and a badge that he was once accused of using improperly to try and intimidate a police officer who had pulled him over.

In his three years on the city council, Halley was also censured by the council for ethics violations. He gained notoriety shortly after taking office in 2007 when a page on a popular social networking website with his name and picture seemingly offered political favors that didn't "come cheap." Halley denied the postings were his and declined an offer by the city to investigate who created the page.

Warrenville officials said Mayor Dave Brummel will appoint someone to fill out the remainder of Halley's term, which expires next year.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=403647">Judge increases Warrenville alderman's bail <span class="date">[08/26/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=401678">Judge orders Warrenville alderman to turn in passport in theft case <span class="date">[08/18/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=401557">Warrenville alderman arrested on charges of theft - again <span class="date">[08/17/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=371795">Warrenville alderman indicted <span class="date">[04/08/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=364606">Warrenville alderman arrested on felony theft charge <span class="date">[03/09/10]</span></a></li>

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