Former COD employee pleads not guilty to theft, forgery
A former part-time College of DuPage employee pleaded not guilty Monday to felony charges that he stole more than $100,000 from the campus radio station over a seven-year period.
A 12-count indictment, filed late Thursday against 65-year-old John Valenta, includes a new charge of forgery. The forgery charge is in addition to felony theft charges lodged against Valenta on Feb. 20.
Valenta's attorney, Brad Telander, said after the hearing that he had not yet seen any of the reports that led to the charges.
"Mr. Valenta maintains his innocence and we're anxious to get a look at the discovery," Telander said.
Prosecutors allege that while working at the radio station from June 10, 2006, through Dec. 19, 2013, Valenta billed the college for more than $200,000 from his private company, Broadcast Technologies, including invoices for parts that were never used at WDCB and labor that was never performed.
The forgery charge alleges Valenta also "concealed ownership interests" in Broadcast Technologies from the college.
Valenta, of Wheaton, first was hired by COD in April 1978 and then resigned in July of that year. He was rehired in November 1979 and left his position for good last February, according to the college.
College officials said they uncovered the fraud in December 2013 and reported it to police.
Valenta, who is free after posting 10 percent of his $400,000 bail, will next appear before Judge Liam Brennan at 9 a.m. June 1 in courtroom 4010.