JERSEYVILLE - Jersey County treasurer Katie Abbey resigned on March 6 in the midst of divorce, foreclosure and an investigation of a shortage in the county’s books.
A notice she provided to county board chairman Gary Krueger cited personal reasons.
“Thank you for the opportunity," she wrote.
She won the job in 2022 on the Republican ticket with no Democrat opponent.
Last June she and husband Bryan Abbey defaulted on their mortgage, according to a suit their lender filed later.
In July, she obtained an order of protection against Bryan and petitioned to end the marriage.
Her counsel Anthony Dos Santos of the Miller King firm in Alton stated she was 36 and resided at 1101 Reddish Drive in Jerseyville.
He stated Bryan was 39 and resided in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.
He stated they married in 2021 in Las Vegas.
He stated children were born in 2015 and 2018 and it was in their best interest to designate her as their custodian.
He stated the court should divide their outstanding debts equitably.
“Petitioner is employed but has insufficient income to support the minor children of the parties without assistance from respondent," he wrote.
He claimed she was unable to pay attorney’s fees and costs.
Jersey County Circuit Judge Allison Lorton recused herself and Seventh Circuit Chief Judge Christopher Reif assigned Sangamon County Associate Judge Jennifer Ascher.
A deputy in Wisconsin took a summons to the address in the complaint and found Bryian’s father who said his son didn’t live there.
The deputy called Bryan who said he lived at 404 Easton Avenue in Jerseyville.
On Aug. 28, Jersey County State’s Attorney Ben Goetten alleged in a misdemeanor complaint that Bryan violated the protective order.
Lorton issued an arrest warrant, recused herself again, and noted that Bryan was in jail.
Reif assigned Ascher, who appointed former Madison County prosecutor Crystal Uhe to relieve Goetten of his conflict of interest as the treasurer’s counsel.
Uhe filed information stating Bryan sent emails and text messages to Katie on Aug. 26 in violation of the order.
On Sept. 30, Scott Snider of the Mormino and Snider firm in Alton entered appearances for Bryan in the divorce and the criminal case.
Snider answered Katie’s petition for dissolution in October, admitting she was employed but denying that she needed his assistance.
He requested primary parenting time and child support.
She took a leave of absence from her job.
In November, Pennymac Loan Services sued to foreclose the mortgage Bryan and Katie executed on 1101 Reddish Drive in 2020.
Pennymac counsel Whitney Andersen of Westchester claimed $148,765.28 was due plus attorney fees, late charges, advances, expenses, and interest at $11.21 a day.
Andersen requested a cash sale by open bid at public auction.
Ascher held a conference on the misdemeanor in December and continued it to Jan. 22.
At a county board meeting on Jan. 14, chairman Krueger said the sheriff received allegations that the treasurer misappropriated public funds.
He said outside law enforcement was brought in and a criminal investigation was ongoing.
“All of us understand the importance of transparency in government but we are respectfully asking the public to be patient and respect the investigative and judicial process in this matter," he said.
On Jan. 22, Ascher held conferences on the misdemeanor and the divorce.
On the misdemeanor, Uhe and Snider agreed to continue it to March 19.
On the divorce, Dos Santos and Snider said settlement negotiations were ongoing and Ascher continued it to March 19.
In February, Pennymac moved for a default order and judgment for foreclosure and sale.
Andersen’s colleague Donald Dechert claimed Bryan and Katie didn’t appear or answer.
He moved to appoint Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation to provide information on a national website and by direct mail, print media and radio.
He set the balance at $153,771.08 plus $2,670 in attorney fees and $968.51 in costs.
He posted notice of a hearing on the motions on April 24.
As local interest increased Krueger placed the treasurer situation on the agenda of the board’s March 11 meeting.
At the meeting he announced her resignation and said, “So that’s where we stand.”