Former city employees in court on theft, misconduct charges

Employees allegedly gave away salt-sand, kept money meant for city

MADISON, Wis. — Two former Lake Geneva Street Department employees were in court Tuesday on charges of theft and misconduct, according to a state Department of Justice release.

A judge set a $10,000 signature bond for Ronald Carstensen and Donald Hoeft with conditions that they not have contact with each other or certain witnesses, and that they stay away from the Lake Geneva Street Department, officials said.

According to a criminal complaint, Carstensen gave away more than $25,000 worth of city of Lake Geneva salt-sand to private companies between 2009 and 2013 while working as the Street Department superintendent. Carstensen is also charged with keeping a sales tax refund check meant for the city.

Hoeft is charged with failing to give the city proceeds from recycling city oil and scrap metal as foreman for the city, according to the release. He allegedly sent city employees on scrap metal runs in city vehicles on work time. Hoeft is also charged with falsely reporting the community service hours that a person on probation worked for the Street Department.

A preliminary hearing for Carstensen and Hoeft is scheduled for Sept. 5.