Court records: Ex-Elgin deputy chief took money from ex-wife, hacked rival's email
A former Elgin deputy police chief currently facing felony misconduct and identity theft charges hacked into his now ex-wife's personal bank account in April 2010 and took $8,500 only to return it after he was confronted by the Elgin police chief, according to court records.
Kane County prosecutors want this "prior bad act" by Robert Beeter, 53, of the 300 block of Settlers Parkway, Elgin, admitted as evidence should his case go to trial.
"The manner in which the defendant carries out all the offenses (is) similar. He selects a target and utilizes a computer medium to achieve his goal," wrote Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Bill Engerman in court papers.
Beeter is charged with 16 counts of identity theft and four counts of official misconduct, all felonies.
Beeter served as Elgin Police deputy chief until accepting a buyout early 2012.
He eventually was named Police Chief in Stockton, Ill., but after his arrest in May 2013, Stockton officials put him on leave and he eventually resigned in late summer 2013.
Beeter is accused of hacking into his mistress's husband's email and using a law enforcement database to look up information on a male acquaintance of his now ex-wife, according to court records.
From August 2010 through April 2011, Beeter hacked into the email 984 times, according to court records.
Beeter, then Elgin deputy chief, was suspended in summer 2010 after having an affair with co-worker, Tamara Welter, a sergeant at the department.
She also was suspended; Beeter is accused of hacking into the email of Greg Welter, then an Elgin police lieutenant, to help Tamara Welter in her divorce.
In court papers, prosecutors say Beeter hacked into his then-wife's personal bank account and removed $8,500 in April 2010. Beth Mularkey found out about this "unauthorized intrusion" when she was trying to get a cashier's check for a down payment on a home she was buying without Beeter's knowledge because their marriage had broken down, according to court records.
Mularkey called Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, told him what happened and Beeter returned the money via electronic transfer later that day, prosecutors said in court papers.
Beeter also made 18 inquiries into a law enforcement database to get information about Mularkey's male acquaintance, who was arrested in a traffic offense in New York, according to court records. Beeter later got a booking photo from the arrest and messaged Mularkey via social media, saying "Wait (until) you see your man's booking photos. Real sharp," according to court records.
A message left for Beeter's defense attorney, Brian Telander, was not immediately returned.
A message left for Swoboda Thursday also was not returned. Mularkey could not be reached for comment.
Beeter is next due in court Dec. 19. If convicted, he faces anywhere from probation to five years in prison.