Bureau County Sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty to stealing from office

Former jail administrator shifted funds from jail trust account

PRINCETON — A former Bureau County Sheriff’s deputy and jail administrator pleaded guilty to stealing more than $135,000 from his employer.

Dexter D. Hansen, 52, pleaded guilty Friday before Judge James Andreoni to one count of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony. The charge carries a sentencing range of up to 30 months of probation, plus $25,000 in fines or 2 to 5 years in prison.

As part of the plea, Hansen agreed to waive a grand jury hearing and/or preliminary hearing before a judge.

Hansen’s guilty plea came as the result of an investigation by state police that was instigated by the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office. Special Prosecutor Brian Towne said in court that an audit of funds was done after a sheriff’s office employee noticed a discrepancy in accounting in the jail’s trust account.

Towne said the investigation determined that between December 2014 and May 2020, Hansen diverted $135,940, paid from bail forfeitures, away from the intended accounts into his own pockets.

As part of Hansen’s plea, he will be required to pay restitution in the full amount taken no later than Dec. 3. At that time, a sentencing hearing will take place. Towne said both the prosecutor’s office and Hansen’s attorney, Brad Popurella, are in discussions regarding the recommended sentencing — part of that will be determined by whether full restitution is made by the sentencing hearing.

Bureau County Sheriff Jim Reed, in a news release, stated that Hansen was employed by the department for 14 years, during that time he served as the jail administrator. He was suspended without pay during the investigation.

Towne said Hansen’s guilty plea automatically resulted in the former deputy being stripped of his pension.