By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – It was revealed during a sentencing hearing Friday that the fired executive director of the LeRoy Park District’s Replex stole tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money, rec center dues, and donations to feed his video gaming addiction.
Joe Rodts, 40, of Normal said what he did was stupid and denied his family a better life.
Judge Casey Costigan sentenced Rodts to six months in the McLean County Jail and 2 1/2 years on probation.
Rodts has already paid back the park district $78,863 restitution, which was one of the reasons why the judge rejected the prosecution’s recommendation for a four-year state prison sentence.
Costigan said Rodts violated the public’s trust, but has no prior criminal history, is getting help for his addiction, and a long prison sentence would create a hardship for Rodts’ three young children.
Prosecutor Brad Rigdon said Rodts deserved more than “just a slap on the wrist” to deter others in positions of trust to misuse taxpayer money.
Rodts charged the Replex accounts hundreds of times to pay iTunes for online video games.
Because of the missing money, the park board’s vice president testified the district stopped maintaining the Replex and were in “survival mode” for a time.
Rodts will begin his jail sentence Wednesday.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
