Hartman Bench Trial Vacated

A June 8 bench trial scheduled for a former village of Matherville employee charged in a theft investigation has been vacated. A status hearing for 69-year-old Roland E. Hartman has been set for June 20th at 9:30 am. The fact that it has been vacated at this time does not mean a trial could be held. Hartman faces Class X and Class 1 felony charges of theft and a Class 3 felony of official misconduct. He appeared Monday in Mercer County Circuit Court.

Hartman was arrested last December and a press release from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department said the investigation “revealed a pattern of long-term theft in excess of $100,000.”

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is free on bond.