By WMBD-TV

PEKIN – “I believe in truth and I believe in facts,” said Roy Paget, the now resigned candidate for Tazewell County Board Chairman, as he stood with his attorney.

Paget, along with central Illinois Realtor Vivian Hagaman who was running for the county board, appeared in Tazewell County Circuit Court on the single misdemeanor count of disregarding election code.

Hagaman is a former board member while Paget is currently sitting on the county board.

The two pleaded guilty and were given 18 months of conditional discharge, which is a form of nonreporting probation, fined $25,000 along with $3,119 in court costs and fees. Additionally, they must perform 100 hours of community service.

In the pages of petition signatures, Tazewell County residents signed their names and addresses, voicing their support to have the candidate on the ballot.

But upon looking through the pages of signatures, you see something is off.

Paget ran against Brett Grimm for board chairman in the county primary. However within the signatures for Paget to be on the ballot included two names that raise an eyebrow: Brett Grimm’s wife and daughter.

Not only do they appear on Paget’s petition, but they also appear on Hagaman’s petition as well, photocopied.

As it turns out, the entire page of signatures that include Grimm’s family members was photocopied, all except where the candidates fill out their information.

Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman stressed the seriousness and importance of the case.

“I think today’s case shows that these are important documents, legal documents,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman went on to say that the case was lead by the office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and that the Tazewell County Clerk’s office did “everything in their power” to cooperate and provide documentation.

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