Warrenville alderman pleads guilty to theft

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

WHEATON — A Warrenville alderman pleaded guilty Friday to swindling thousands of dollars from acquaintances. As a result of that plea, he will give up his seat on the Warrenville City Council.

DuPage County prosecutors said Alderman Christopher Halley, 27, of the 2S000 block of Ascot Lane, took payments for tickets to Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawk games from acquaintances on several occasions, but failed to deliver the tickets or a refund to his victims. In one case, Halley took money to arrange a “meet and greet” with former President George W. Bush. Again, Halley failed to provide the meeting with the former president and did not refund the victim’s money, prosecutors said.

DuPage Judge George Bakalis sentenced Halley to 94 days in the DuPage County jail and two years’ probation. In addition, Halley was ordered to repay $3,314 in restitution to his victims.

As part of the plea, Halley was also required to relinquish his Warrenville aldermanic position.

In all, Halley pleaded guilty to three felony counts of theft by deception, two misdemeanor counts of theft by deception and one count of deceptive practices.