Grundy County State's Attorney Launches 'Operation Restore'

Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland announced the “Operation Restore” program in a news release issued on Thursday.

 The Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office has been collecting restitution for crimes victims since 1980; however, the Office currently has restitution money for over 40 victims that cannot be located.

“Operation Restore” seeks to make crime victims whole by submitting restitution to crime victims that was paid by offenders.  Restitution places crime victims in the same position they were in before the crime was committed.

“Unfortunately it often takes offenders years to pay restitution and as a result, several victims lost contact with my office,” said Helland.

Helland is asking for Grundy County residents to take a moment to check the official list of names in the “Operation Restore” program and contact the State’s Attorney’s Office if they know the whereabouts of the following victims:

Darrin Affrunti, Sherry Anthony, Mike Bartholomew, Robert Burrell, Robert Cook, Marcos Cruz-Paez, Tara Damon, Bobby Jo Dulabham, Ralph Fischer, Lori Fletoski, Michael Gatham, Mike Hendrickson, Ken Ingold, Eric Johnson, Tracie Jones, Angela Kenney, Vincent Knight, Elmer Knudson, Shelly Lynn, Diana Mantis, Kenneth Michalski, Louis Milton, Lindro Mondragon, Robert Peterson, James Polak, C.J. Purcell, Juan Ruiz, Rigoberto Santana-Avila, David Schoeneck, Troy Scholes, Tiffany Seets, Heather Shawl, Dave Sternisha, Cheryl Tyrell, Laurie Williams, Rich Wold, Thomas Wzorek, Enver Zegiri, Morris Radiology, and Treasured Keepsakes.

Receiving a tip about a crime victim’s new address will allow the State’s Attorney’s Office to compensate them. The State’s Attorney’s Office can be contacted at 815-941-3276.

“Any restitution money that is not paid to a crime victim will remain in the State’s Attorney’s Restitution Trust Fund,” said Helland.

The Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office will not be collecting restitution for crime victims after July 1, 2013. Rather, restitution will be collected by the Circuit Clerk.

Helland noted that this transition is going to be made in order to gain compliance with Illinois law.  Under Illinois Law, only the Circuit Clerk and not the State’s Attorney has the authority to collect and disburse restitution in criminal cases.