Two Aledo, Illinois police officers resigned less than a month after they were each charged in connection with a sexual abuse case involving a minor.
Steven Bonynge, 32, of Aledo and Seth Degelman, 30, of Reynolds, surrendered to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department Friday, December 12, 2014. Court records showed Bonynge was charged with class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse/weapon, and Degelman was charged with class 3 felony indecent solicitation/aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The charges followed an investigation by Illinois State Police, which began after the Aledo Police Department received a complaint of an inappropriate relationship between an officer and a juvenile, according to Aledo Police Chief J. Michael Sponsler.
Less than four weeks after the charges were filed, both officers resigned their positions with the police department.
Sponsler “received letters of resignation and the Mayor accepted the resignations” from Degelman and Bonynge on Monday, January 5, 2015 according to Aledo Mayor Chris Hagloch.
Both men remained free after posting bond the same day they surrendered. Court records showed they were each scheduled to appear in Mercer County Court for arraignment January 14.
