Jake Wakitsch
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Jake Wakitsch, former Northwood Middle School Principal, has told a McHenry County Judge that he is guilty of a felony forgery charge.
Those in the Teachers Retirement System lose their pensions when a felony is entered into their record.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail.
However, that time behind bars will not have to be served if he reimburses the organizations he stole money from.
The Tribune reports he has a week to reimburse $26,600 to the two organizations he stole from if he wishes to avoid jail.
The press release from Woodstock District 200 issued last September follows:
Jake Wakitsch reading to assembly on Veterans Day.
THEFT/FORGERY ARREST
On July 31, 2015, Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 officials notified the Woodstock Police Department Criminal Investigations Division of possible mismanagement and theft of funds from various non-district bank accounts associated with
- the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and
- the Fox Valley Junior High School Conference.
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the former principal of Northwood Middle School, Jerome “Jake” Wakitsch [age 41], on numerous occasions dating from February 2014 to June 2015, unlawfully withdrew several thousands of dollars from the two said bank accounts maintained by Wakitsch, for which he was an authorized user.
Funds taken unlawfully were alleged to have been used for personal gain.
On September 01, 2015, upon conferring with the McHenry County States Attorney’s Office, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Wakitsch for two counts of theft (over $500.00) and one count of forgery, all class 3 felonies.
The forgery complaint was the result of Wakitsch forging the signature of another authorized user on checks for the PTO account, which required two signatures of authorized persons to be valid.
Wakitsch was notified and immediately turned himself in at the Woodstock Police Department, posted the required $20,000 bond and was released without incident. Wakitsch’s next court date is scheduled for September 15, 2015 at 9:00 am at the McHenry County Government Center.
Those in TRS can be felons and still receive benefits.
The felony must be ‘work related’ to be removed from TRS.
Felony conviction
If you are convicted of a work-related felony while you are a member of TRS, you become ineligible for TRS membership and benefits. However, you may take a refund of your TRS retirement contributions (see Chapter 15: “Refund of Retirement Contributions” )
If you are convicted while an annuitant, you are enti- tled to a refund of your retirement contributions that have not been paid as an annuity benefit.
No job ?
– No worries !
With his background he sounds like an excellent fit for membership in the Chicago Teachers Union.
At the administration level, of course.