James Svoboda pleads not guilty to charges related to theft of $350K+ from Mount Pleasant, Caledonia

James Svoboda (Courtesy: Racine Journal Times)



RACINE COUNTY -- James Svoboda pleaded not guilty in Racine County court on Thursday, Jan. 2 to charges related to the theft of more than $350,000 from the villages of Mount Pleasant and Caledonia.

Svoboda faces charges on eight total counts -- two of theft of movable property, three of uttering a forgery, one of forgery, one of unauthorized use of information/documents and one of misconduct in public office.

A criminal complaint states James Svoboda was a Village of Caledonia employee and a contracted Village of Mount Pleasant employee. He was the joint parks superintendent and a park liaison for the municipalities. He was also employed as the Caledonia cemetery worker.

During his employment in those positions, authorities say Svoboda fraudulently endorsed checks, transferred money from a village bank account into a personal bank account, accepted payments intended for village services directly into a personal bank account and used village funds for personal purchases.

Svoboda is due back in court on Feb. 28.