Probation for Forest Preserve worker who stole scrap metal
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporter/rhussain@suntimes.com March 7, 2013 4:08PM
Updated: March 7, 2013 8:44PM
A former Cook County Forest Preserve District employee was sentenced to two years on probation Thursday for stealing more than $4,000 of county scrap metal, selling it and pocketing the money.
Judge Timothy Joyce also ordered Lucious Jefferson, 53, of Orland Park, to pay $4,062.66 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property, according to Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the state’s attorney’s office.
Jefferson took the scrap metal from the forest preserve grounds and used a county truck to haul it to a junkyard, prosecutors said.
He sold the scrap metal on at least 16 occasions between May and December 2011, authorities said.
Jefferson was fired by the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
