Lake Forest High assistant athletic director charged with theft

A Lake Forest High School assistant athletic director faces a theft charge alleging he stole nearly $2,300 from a fund for school intramurals, authorities said.

Christopher J. Morehead, 56, of Vernon Hills, is charged with one count of theft after a nearly three-month investigation into the missing funds, authorities said. A second charge of theft greater than $500 from a school or place of worship was dropped, court records show.

Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Rob Copeland said administrators at the high school discovered $2,280 from the fund was missing and tracked the money back to Morehead. Administrators contacted the school resource officer who also investigated the missing funds.

Morehead later admitted taking the money for personal use, Copeland said.

The investigation resulted in the charges filed by the Lake County state's attorney's office, Copeland said. Court records show Morehead was charged Feb. 8.

Lake Forest High School District 115 Superintendent Michael Simeck would not comment on the investigation or whether Morehead is still employed by the district. He would only say the district is "cooperating fully with police."

Morehead is free from the Lake County jail on a $20,000 signature bond. He is due back in court March 1.