Former Lake Co. recorder’s office employee charged in theft

A former employee of the Lake County Recorder of Deeds office has been charged with stealing $800 in office funds during the past year.

Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Scheller said Nicole Martinez, 32, is charged with theft of government property and official misconduct.

Scheller said Martinez, of Zion, took small amounts of cash, generally between $29 and $39, from transactions she handled in the office between January 2010 and January of this year.

He said Martinez would cover the thefts by entering them in ledgers as voided or no-charge transactions.

On Jan. 18, Martinez pocketed some cash related to a transaction at the office and failed to cover it on the books because she did not come to work the next day, Scheller said.

The discrepancy prompted an internal investigation by officials of the recorder’s office, Scheller said, and they determined that about $800 was missing.

Sheriff’s police interviewed Martinez on Monday, Scheller said, and she admitted taking the $800.

Recorder Mary Ellen Vanderventer said Martinez was a principal clerk in her office and had worked there for 12 years before being fired at the end of last month.

“My staff is just devastated and I am heartbroken,” Vanderventer said. “We have a number of checks and balances in our accounting procedures, and a red flag was raised.”

Martinez appeared before Associate Judge Raymond Collins late Monday afternoon.

Collins set Martinez’s bond at $25,000 and ordered her to appear in court again March 1, Scheller said.

Scheller said Martinez faces up to five years in prison if convicted in the case but would also be eligible for probation.