Police Chief Accused of Crime in Southern Illinois

 Posted on June 15, 2013 in Criminal Defense

The Chicago Sun Times recently reported that an Illinois police chief from the southwest was accused in early May of two felony misconducts for supposedly misusing a pickup truck that was seized in a drug case.

56-year-old Caseyville Police Chief J.D. Roth was accused of not only driving a 2003 Dodge Dakota Ram 1500 pickup truck for police business, but also for personal use instead of selling the truck in an auction as he was instructed to do.

Roth was instructed to get bids from local car dealers and sold it for $7,500 to a dealer whose owner is friends with Roth. He then bought the car back soon after. The state law requires, however, that the vehicle must be sold for the benefit of the public.

Roth has also been accused of personal use of luggage that he bought with public funds.

Although both the luggage charge and the truck charge are each punishable by a fine of $25,000 and five years in prison, Roth’s attorney is confident that his 26 year police career will help to prove Roth’s innocence.

One of Roth’s attorneys, Clyde Kuehn, said,“Twenty-six years he’s been in law enforcement in this area … and he’s developed a reputation of being a good law enforcement officer, and he’s served the community.”

Although Roth may have support because he has been a police officer for so many years, no one can get away with crime. If he is proven guilty, Roth will face his charges and serve his punishment just as any other citizen would be required to do.

If you have been accused of a crime, whether or not you work in law enforcement like Roth does, contact a criminal attorney for assistance in having your name cleared. Attorney Chris Cosley can help you with your criminal case in Rolling Meadows, Ill. today.

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