Ex-Kendall County Employee Stole Government Hardware: Sheriff

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — A former Kendall County Technology Services employee is facing felony charges after an investigation determined he stole several pieces of electronic hardware from the county, officials said.

Nathan Mixa, of the 4000 block of East 2709th Road in Sandwich, was arrested Nov. 17 on a warrant and charged with official misconduct and theft of government property exceeding $10,000 but less than $100,000 in value.

Authorities began looking into the 23-year-old Mixa in September. The LaSalle County Sheriff's Office opened an investigation where deputies uncovered the hardware the man did not have proper authorization to have in his possession, according to a news release from the Kendall County Sheriff's Office, who later launched their own investigation in conjunction with Kendall County Inspector General Jeff Burgner.

Mixa was placed on administrative leave "immediately upon being made aware of the situation." He was officially terminated following the conclusion of the inspector general's investigation.

The Technology Services Department confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the integrity of county networks as a result of the theft, according to the sheriff's office.

"The Inspector General also reviewed applicable policies, procedures, and practices and made recommendations to prevent future incidents, and those recommendations have since been implemented," Kendall County Deputy Dan Briars wrote in a news release.

Mixa appeared before a judge a day after his arrest and was released on pre-trial conditions.