Aurora Ald. Lynne M. Johnson

A city of Aurora attorney has revealed that Ald. Lynne Johnson’s January arrest for retail theft is among six incidents in her past.

According to a report on Tuesday by corporation counsel Alayne Weingartz to an Aurora City Council committee of the whole meeting, Johnson has also been arrested in four other communities, plus a 2013 theft at an Aurora Meijer store that resulted in a City Council censure.

Johnson, 51, also pleaded guilty to retail theft from a Meijer story in Bolingbrook in 2003 and was later charged with theft from a Target story in Willowbrook in 2010.

There were also incidents in Plainfield and Naperville but Weingartz was still awaiting information from those jurisdictions.

“The alderman has had arrests for retail theft in other jurisdictions over the years, at least four of them in other locations,” said Weingartz. “What’s clear that this is not the first in 2013 and 2016 is not the second. But in fact is part of several actions on the part of the alderman.”

The 10th ward alderman pleaded not guilty to a Jan. 31 charge of theft from an Illinois Route 59 Meijer store located in the ward she represents. It was the same outlet she was arrested at in 2013.

Absent conviction of a felony, the city of Aurora has no clear means remove Johnson, according Weingartz.

“Looking specifically at the city’s options, it’s clear from everything that I’ve been able to ascertain through research (and) discussions with outside counsel that the city does not have
currently a route to fire the alderman from her position,” she said.

“She’s an elected position and currently, the way the status of the law is in the state of Illinois, there’s not an ability to recall a locally elected official.”

Weingartz offered no recommendation for action while the legal process continued in Johnson’s current case. She said the DuPage County states attorney’s office had the option to upgrade charges to a felony based on previous incidents.

Johnson was present for the meeting but made no public comment.

In the Jan. 31 arrest,  Johnson was charged with stealing items totaling $55.21 from the Meijer store. She posted a $150 cash bond and was released. She’ll face a March 7 court date at the DuPage County Judicial Center in Wheaton.

Following her 2013 guilty plea, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner called for Johnson’s “immediate resignation” in a public statement as well as in a private meeting.

Johnson declined to resign and was censured by fellow Council members