By WMAY Newsroom
(Mid-West Family Broadcasting)
The man who police say fell through the ceiling of Springfield’s JC Penney store while trying to burglarize it is now in the Sangamon County Jail… after spending several days in the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Johnathan Harter had been arrested earlier this month for a burglary at a Walgreens, and had been released on his own recognizance at the time of his latest arrest. And he had already been awaiting trial on a 2019 charge of possession of a stolen vehicle. He’s being held on $100,000 bond.
Prosecutors say because of his prior record, he could face 12 to 60 years in prison if convicted of the new charges.
Adam Lopez, Former Springfield School Board President and former insurance/financial and fitness businessman, has plead Guilty to felony theft, a Class X Felony, which was the most serious of the charges against him - all other charges were dismissed,
Lopez has been incarcerated in the Sangamon County Jail since
his arrest in November 2018, according to
Nearly two and a half years after his arrest, former School District 186 board of education president and County Financial agent Adam Lopez of Springfield pleaded guilty to theft in a Sangamon County court Monday.
Lopez, 38, has been in jail since 2018, accused of stealing more than $1 million from clients when he was a financial agent for Country Financial. He was fired from the company after a customer complained.
Under an agreement with the Sangamon County state s attorney, Lopez pleaded guilty to a felony Class X theft, the most serious charge. Three counts of financial exploitation of the elderly and a count of financial exploitation of a person with disabilities were dismissed.
Apr. 9, 2013: Elected to District 186 board of education from Subdistrict 2
Apr. 7, 2015: Reelected to District 186 board of education from Subdistrict 2
July 7, 2015: Defeated by Rob Mellon in a special Democratic primary for the 18th congressional seat
Early September 2018: Lopez is fired as a Country Financial agent after a client filed a complaint that he knowingly exerted unauthorized control over more than $1 million entrusted to him.
September 2018: Springfield Police Department open an investigation against Lopez and raid his home and office. The FBI later takes over the investigation.
Sept. 28, 2018: Lincoln Land Community College rescinds on an agreement to host Adam Lopez Basketball Tournament after allegations are made against Lopez