A former worker at a boys’ home in rural Livingston County is facing embezzlement charges.
The Livingston County sheriff’s department has arrested Stacey Benge on felony allegations. In mid-May, the Salem Children’s Home in rural Flanagan reported the possible theft of several hundred thousand dollars. Deputies took Benge into custody May 30.
Livingston County sheriff's police said Benge worked at the home for more than a decade and rose to take charge of bookkeeping and finances. Detectives said Benge had resigned on an issue unrelated to the alleged theft. Staff became suspicious and began looking at back records and then reported it to law enforcement. Detectives said the alleged thefts happened over a period of several years.
The Salem Children’s Home operates a ranch and school about 24 miles north of Bloomington-Normal. It is a religious enterprise founded by Mennonites in 1896 as an orphanage. Since 2006 the Illinois State Board of Education has licensed it as a boarding school. Boys ages 12-17 live in cottages in a group setting, two people to a room with an adult worker living in the cottage as well.
