Carpentersville man admits stealing from Buffalo Grove employer

A Carpentersville man admitted Monday he stole money his employer had given him to deposit in a bank.

Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips placed Roberto Chavez, 45, on probation for three years after accepting his guilty plea to felony theft.

The exact amount Chavez will have to pay back to Land and Lakes Yard Waste of Buffalo Grove will be determined at a hearing Phillips scheduled for April 26.

Assistant State's Attorney James Newman said Chavez, of the 1300 block of Sacramento Drive, was employed as a landscaper at the company.

Between May and June 2009, Newman said, Chavez was charged with taking the company's night deposit to the bank.

He instead took the money home, Newman said, and Chavez's employer called police when he discovered it was missing from the business account.

Chavez told police he had taken around $20,000 in cash and checks, and officers were able to recover around $2,000 and some uncashed checks from his home.

Land and Lakes officials claim $32,000 to $40,000 was taken, Newman said, so Phillips decided to schedule the restitution hearing.

Phillips also placed Chavez on electronic home monitoring for six months and ordered him to perform 200 hours of community service.

Newman said Chavez could have faced up to five years in prison if convicted after a trial.