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Illinois man waives preliminary hearing in $100,000 theft

LINN TOWNSHIP — A trial will be scheduled for an Illinois man charged in connection with the theft of $100,000 from a Linn Township home after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Scott J. Zim, 31, of Woodstock, Ill., is charged in Walworth County with party to theft. He faces $25,000 in fines and 10 years in prison.

Patrick R. Vermett, 34, of Woodstock, Ill., admitted to taking the $100,000 from the Linn Township house, according to court documents. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison and five years probation.

Vermett said he was involved with moving furniture from the house to a storage barn during construction in late 2008, according to the complaint. He noticed a piece of paper stuck to the bottom of the pool table containing the safe combination.

Vermett said he wrote down the numbers and admitted knowing the location of the safe, according to the complaint.

Vermett said he took about $20,000 in late August 2009. He admitted coming back about a month later and taking an additional $80,000, according to the complaint.

Zim said he was with Vermett when they found the safe combination and during the theft, according to the complaint. They split the money in half, according to the complaint.

About $13,400 of the money has been returned, Linn Police Chief Dennis Wisniewski said.