Zion woman pleads not guilty to official misconduct

A former employee of the Lake County circuit court clerk's office has pleaded not guilty to charges involving changing electronic and paper records in criminal and civil cases to help people she knew.

Veronica Ventura, 41, of the 1400 block of Larelei Drive in Zion, faces up to five years in prison if found guilty of two counts of official misconduct, authorities said Wednesday.

Ventura and her sister, Leticia Gonzalez, 45, of the 1000 block of Shiloh Boulevard, are accused of changing documents dating back to 2010 while working as clerks at the office.

Authorities said the altered documents were uncovered during an internal audit. The U.S. Secret Service field office in Chicago and the Lake County state's attorney's office participated in the investigation into Gonzalez's actions, authorities said.

Gonzalez is charged with eight counts of official misconduct.

Ventura is free from Lake County jail after posting the required 10 percent of her $50,000 bail. Gonzalez is free after posting 10 percent of her $20,000 bail.

Ventura faces an Aug. 15 trial date and is due back in court July 18.