Montgomery woman accused of running boarding house faces new theft charge

A Montgomery woman accused of using her single-family home as a boarding house and of stealing money and items from her tenants appeared in Kendall County court Friday morning, May 4, after she was recently charged again with felony theft.

Catherine Burson, formerly known as Catherine Boyd, 38, of the 2300 block of Thunder Gultch Road, appeared before Judge Robert Pilmer at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville regarding criminal charges related to the accusation that she was renting rooms in her single-family home in the Blackberry Crossing West subdivision.

Most recently, Montgomery police arrested Burson on Thursday, May 3, and she was charged with felony retail theft of less than $300, according to court records.

The village of Montgomery and the Blackberry Crossing West Homeowners Association filed civil lawsuits against Burson in 2016, accusing her of running her single-family home at 2328 Thunder Gulch Road as a "boarding house facility." Such a use violates the village's zoning code, according to the village's lawsuit.

The Kendall County State's Attorney has charged Burson with felony unlawful restraint, for refusing to allow a woman to leave her residence in February of 2016; felony theft for obtaining funds of less than $500 under the promise to rent a room in her home in February of 2017; felony theft for "knowingly exerted unauthorized control over property" worth less than $500 and "intending to deprive (the victim) permanently of the use or benefit of the property in February 2017; felony theft for "knowingly exerted unauthorized control over property" worth less than $500 and "intending to deprive (the victim) permanently of the use or benefit of the property in May of 2016; felony theft for obtaining currency "under promise to rent a room to (the victim)"; and misdemeanor battery for an incident that occurred in March of 2017 at her home.

Attorney Brittany Pedersen of Geneva and Assistant Public Defender Michael Montgomery represented Burson at her hearing Friday.

During the hearing, Pedersen told Pilmer that she would no longer be representing Burson's husband, Jonathon. Jonathon Burson faces a felony unlawful restraint charge from February of 2016, according to court records.

"At this time I'm going to ask to withdraw from Jonathon Burson's (case)," Pedersen said. "I believe given Mrs. Burson's situation, a conflict has arisen and Mr. Burson needs to find other counsel. So I would be asking to withdraw from (Jonathon Burson's case) and give Mr. Burson 30 days to find a new attorney on that case."

Pilmer approved Pedersen's request and told Jonathon Boyd that if he could not afford an attorney, one could be appointed to him.

Pilmer set the next hearing on Catherine Burson's case for June 29 at 9 a.m.