Former Round Lake Beach cop pleads guilty to theft
A former Round Lake Beach police officer pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception in excess of $500, authorities said.
Kenneth Rydz, 42, of McHenry, was sentenced to 24 months of probation and 50 hours of community service as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, said Cynthia Vargas, communication manager of the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. In exchange for his guilty plea, charges of theft, identity theft and official misconduct were dropped, Vargas said.
Under the deal reached Sept. 11, Rydz must pay $3,000 in restitution, is not allowed to possess illegal drugs, must submit to periodic drug testing and is not allowed to have contact with any Round Lake Beach employees or village board members, Vargas said.
Round Lake Beach officials confirmed Rydz is no longer a village employee.
The 17-year police department veteran pleaded not guilty to the charges in August 2014 after authorities said he illegally used a police department credit card to purchase more than $3,700 in gasoline between March 2013 and May 2014.
Round Lake Beach officials had told police officers to stop using a Thornton's gas card to fill up police vehicles, and instructed them to instead use the village's public works facility, authorities said.
Round Lake Beach Police Chief David Hare had said previously a questionable Thornton's bill came to the department, and it was initially thought to be a mistake. However, officials checked into it and determined Rydz was using the card to buy gas for his personal vehicles.
The Lake County state's attorney's office charged Rydz in July 2014.
Had Rydz been found guilty of the original charges at trial, he faced one to seven years in prison, although probation was also an option.