Four years after former Highwood Fire Department Deputy Chief Ronald Pieri was arrested on charges related to payroll fraud, a Lake County Circuit Court judge has found him guilty on a single count of false entry for falsifying time records. But Judge Victoria Rossetti found Pieri not guilty on two counts of official misconduct and two counts of theft of government property.
Sentencing on the lone conviction, a felony, is scheduled for Feb. 17. Pieri could face probation or up to five years in prison.
After the verdict, defense lawyer Richard Blass said he "respectfully disagrees" with the outcome, as he does not believe the state's evidence supported a count of false entry beyond a reasonable doubt.
Before ruling on the case, Rossetti summarized the content of many of the state's 45 exhibits, which contained thousands of pages of documents, as well as the testimony of key witnesses. She said Pieri was very familiar with the firehouse computer system for tracking personnel on duty, as he managed the system and taught others how to use it. He also was aware of the city's personnel policies for fire employees.
Pieri stood trial this fall before Rossetti on felony charges related to the falsification of time records from January 2006 to December 2010.