A long-time Madison County probation official faces felony charges of theft and obstructing justice.
A grand jury today accused 53-year-old Richard N. Asperger of stealing $355 cash from a woman’s purse in Troy, Ill., on Nov. 22 and lying to police about it. Bail was set at $5,000 and Asperger was expected to surrender to authorities.
Asperger is human services administrator in the county’s Probation and Court Services Department and has been with the department for 25 years. Chief Judge Ann Callis and Probation and Court Services Director Judith Dallas late today said they planned “prompt and appropriate action” regarding Asperger’s employment status.
Charles Zalar, a special prosecutor with the state’s appellate prosecutor’s office, said an 85-year-old Troy woman left her purse in a shopping cart at a Walgreens store. Zalar said the woman soon realized the purse was missing, returned to the store and was given the purse and a bank envelope that had been in the purse. There was some money in the envelope but $355 was missing.
Zalar said Asperger gave the purse to a pharmacist and later pointed out the envelope to store personnel. The prosecutor said a surveillance video contradicted Asperger’s statements to police about the matter.
Madison County State’s Attorney William Mudge requested a special prosecutor for the case to avoid potential conflict of interest.
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