Report: Trustee Ethics Allegations Not Criminal

Racine police have completed their investigation into allegations made anonymously that Mount Pleasant Trustee Sonny Havn had a close relationship with a staff member, that could inhibit his ability to carry out his duties as an elected official — and they say the issues raised are civil, not criminal. 

Mount Pleasant police turned the investigation over to Racine police.

Racine Police Chief Art Howell issued a six-page report on Jan. 31, and advised the village to investigate further, but stressed the matter is more civil than criminal in nature.

Patch requested a copy of the report, and it was mostly redacted when released on Tuesday. But in Howell's conclusion, he says the allegations don't meet the "criteria for criminal prosecution." But, Howell also writes that the village might want to have attorneys review the matter "for possible ethics violations and/or conflicts of interest."

Howell does say that if the author of the letter chooses to come forward to make a formal complaint and the information could be validated, the "potential exists that in certain circumstances, a conflict of interest ... could be established."

When the allegations first surfaced, Havn told Patch that he has a lot of friends and that his personal life has nothing to do with his work as a trustee.

He also noted the letter wasn't signed, but the letter's author wrote he or she was afraid of retaliation.

Havn did send Patch a written statement regarding the report, saying he wishes the complete report had been released. His full statement is attached as a PDF to this story.

"I am glad that the report on the investigation has come out,” Havn wrote. “However, it is regrettable that the complete incident report will not be released at this time ... it goes into more details and the behind the scene shenanigans that accompanied the anonymous letter and bogus claims.”

Patch submitted an open records request Feb. 6 for the report and on Feb. 19 Village Clerk/Treasurer Veronica Rudychev responded, saying the report could not be released, in part, because:

• The public’s interest in confidentiality at this time outweighs the public's interest for disclosure for the following reasons:
• The Village will keep complaints and the terms of their resolution confidential.
• Releasing the report could discourage future reporting and hamper any subsequent investigations.
• Despite Howell's report concluding the matter is civil and not criminal, the situation is considered on-going and protected under state statutes governing closed session meetings.
• Some information in the report could be incomplete or inaccurate, potentially damaging reputations.
• Public employee morale could be eroded.

It is unclear at this point what further action, if any, will be taken about this matter.