Jay Laesch News Today

The former manager of the city-owned arena has withdrawn his petition to have a misdemeanor theft conviction expunged in a case that required him to pay $450,000 to the city as part of what was billed as a major embezzlement case when it was filed in 2017.

Former arena manager John Butler has asked a judge to seal court records related to his 2020 misdemeanor conviction for theft in connection with what started as one of the largest embezzlement cases filed in McLean County and ended with a plea deal that required Butler to pay the city $450,000 restitution.

David Proeber / The Pantagraph (Pool) The last of five former officials charged with misconduct related to their oversight of Bloomingtons city-owned arena pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft on Friday and agreed to pay $20,500 restitution to the city. Bart Rogers, 50, who served as general manager of what was formerly known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum, was among a group of staff named in more than 100 indictments accusing them of theft, money laundering, tax evasion and other felony charges...