Two sisters from Zion have both pleaded not guilty to charges of official misconduct for allegedly altering court files while formerly employed with the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s Office.
Leticia Gonzalez, 45, pleaded not guilty before Judge Daniel Shanes Thursday to eight counts of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony. Shanes said at her arraignment hearing that the charges stemmed from altering records for her benefit and the benefit of another.
Her sister, Veronica Ventura, pleaded not guilty Wednesday before Judge Mark Levitt to two counts of official misconduct.
Prosecutors have not elaborated on the case beyond alleging the two altered court records for their benefit while employed as clerks. They have since been terminated from their positions in the Circuit Clerk’s office.
The alleged activities go back as far as 2010, Circuit Court Clerk Keith Brin said in a statement.
“This type of conduct undermines the integrity of our court system and will not be tolerated,” Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim said in the same release.
Brin said that an internal audit revealed unauthorized changes in court files and that both the Chicago office of the Secret Service and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office were notified of the findings, and an investigation led to the arrests and charges.
Brin said additional system safeguards have been put in place to help ensure that such actions do not take place again.
Both women posted their required bonds and are free from custody.
Shanes scheduled an Aug. 12 trial and a June 14 case management hearing for Gonzalez.
An Aug. 15 trial date and a July 18 case management hearing have been scheduled for Ventura.
Twitter @jimnewton5
