Former Elgin police deputy chief could settle federal lawsuit
A year after a pleading guilty to felony identity theft, a former Elgin deputy police chief is trying to settle a federal lawsuit filed against him.
Robert Beeter, 54, formerly of Elgin and now of Inverness, pleaded guilty in July 2015 to felony identity theft for repeatedly hacking into his mistress's then-husband's business email to help her with her divorce. He was sentenced to two years of probation by a Kane County judge.
Beeter's attorney submitted a request earlier this month for a settlement conference before U.S. Judge David W. Weisman with regard to a federal lawsuit filed by Debra Seitz and business partner and former Elgin Police Cmdr. Greg Welter.
The lawsuit was first filed in 2011 seeking to find out who hacked into their business email; Seitz and Welter took their information to Elgin police, who investigated and criminal charges eventually were filed against Beeter.
Beeter also was accused of using a law enforcement database for personal use, but those charges were dismissed last year when he pleaded guilty.
Beeter and Elgin Police Sgt. Tamara Welter, who is now divorced from Greg Welter, were suspended in summer 2010 for a month without pay after an internal police investigation concluded they had an affair.
Beeter eventually accepted a buyout from the city as part of its efforts to reduce payroll and cut staff. Beeter later was hired as police chief for Stockton, a town in northwestern Illinois between Freeport and Galena. He was placed on leave and later fired after the felony identity theft charges were brought by Kane County authorities in 2013.
Charles Mudd, who is the attorney for Seitz in her lawsuit, did not immediately return a phone message Monday. A message left for Deb Harvey, the defense attorney for Beeter in the lawsuit, also was not returned.
In the criminal case, Beeter faced 20 total counts of felony identity theft and misconduct. All but two of those were dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea and sentence, which also requires Beeter to pay $2,280 in court fee and fines and 50 hours of community service.
If Beeter violates probation, he could be resentenced to additional probation, jail or up to seven years in prison.
The two sides are due to meet before Weisman Aug. 17 to possibly settle the federal lawsuit.