Ex-Golf Club Employee Indicted Over $9,000 Pro Club Theft

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Two Chicago men, including a former employee of Highland Park Country Club, were indicted by a Lake County Grand Jury on felony burglary charges Wednesday in connection with a report of an incident at the club five months prior. The former staffer was also charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing $9,000 worth of goods from the club's pro shop, police said.

Jeremy Hudson, 19, of the 1100 block of East 81st Street in Chicago, faces up to a dozen years in prison if convicted of both charges. William Harris, 37, of the 6200 block of South King Drive in Chicago faces a maximum sentence of seven years on the burglary charge.

On May 18, an employee at the country club noticed that an interior door had been left unlocked, although the outer doors remained secured, and reported a burglary at the 1201 Park Avenue West location. Clothing, multiple tablet computers and cash were reported stolen, according to Highland Park Deputy Chief Tim Wilinski. There was no sign of forced entry, indicating the burglar may have used a key. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Highland Park — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Wilinski said detectives interviewed employees of the club and determined Hudson, their former colleague, was a suspect. One witness allegedly saw Hudson wearing some of the clothes he and Harris are accused of stealing.

Hudson did not work at the club for long. According to Highland Park Country Club General Manager Alex Prior, Hudson was hired March 24 and terminated on April 27 of this year.

Hudson was brought into the Lake County Jail on July 21 and posted 10 percent of an $85,000 bond on Aug. 5. He is due to be arraigned Aug. 31, according to the Lake County Clerk.

Harris was brought into the Lake County Jail on July 27 and was being held in lieu of $50,000 bond as of Friday, according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff. He is due to be arraigned Aug. 24, according to the Lake County Clerk.

_{Top photo: Jeremy Hudson (left), William Harris | Lake County Sheriff}