Mayor accepts resignation of APD officers facing felony charges

Following the City Council meeting Monday, Jan. 5, Mayor Chris Hagloch announced the resignation of Seth Degelman and Steven Bonynge. The former officers submitted their letters of resignation to the Aledo Chief of Police, J. Michael Sponsler.

Both were arrested on related charges on Friday, Dec. 12. According to Chief Sponsler, "(the department) received a complaint of an inappropriate relationship between an officer and a juvenile subject. I immediately requested the Illinois State Police to conduct an investigation into the matter. The findings of their investigation were presented to the Mercer County State’s Attorney resulting in (the charges.)"

They are scheduled to appear in Mercer County Court on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

Aledo Police Officer Steven Bonynge, 32, of Aledo was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse/weapon. Count 1 alleges that on or about February or March, 2013, in Mercer County, Bonynge committed the offense of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. If convicted of a Class 2 felony, the charge carries 3-7 years prison.

The same day, an arrest warrant was also served charging Seth Degelman, of Reynolds with indecent solicitation of a minor/aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

The charge reads: Count 1 alleges that from December 2012 - February 2013, Degelman committed a Class 3 felony - the defendant, being a person over 17 committed indecent solicitation of a child when the defendant, with the intent that the offense of aggravated criminal sexual abuse be committed, knowingly solicited a child, under the age of 17 years, a minor, to perform an act of sexual conduct including 'inter alia' (among other things), touching her breast for his own sexual gratification. A Class 3 felony carries 2-5 years prison if convicted.

Both subjects turned themselves in to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department for booking on Friday afternoon and posted the required bond of $4000 each.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.