Christopher W. England, 36, of Edwardsville, faces a Class 2 felony charge alleging the theft from Peel Wood Fired Pizza. The charge alleges theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000 from Peel between Jan. 1 and May 11, according to court documents and charges filed by Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine's office.
England has pleaded not guilty. He has a jury trial scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 30.
'My demons'
Brandon Case, who owns Peel Wood Fired Pizza with Patrick Thirion, first spoke with an officer at the Edwardsville Police Department on May 17, according to EPD reports.
Case told an officer that Thirion received notice from the company's accountants on May 9 that the Edwardsville restaurant's petty cash count was at an unusual level. Case and Thirion contacted England and soon felt "something was off with England," police reports state.
When the two owners talked to the then-general manager later in the day, Case told police, England said he "misplaced $10,000 cash" when the business moved in January 2022 and that "$20,000 of Peel's money was at England's house," police reports state.
England's employment was terminated May 9, Case told police. Case said England told the owners he would deposit money back to Peel on May 10 and "England wanted to make it right," police reports state.
According to Case, there was $12,500 deposited into a Peel bank account by England on May 11. Police reports include a May 11 email that Case said is from England to Case.
Part of the email purportedly from England states: "I wanted to once again apologize for my actions and letting my demons put you guys in the crosshairs."
The email states that England had sought help via Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous.
"Regardless I will get you everything I owe you guys," the email purportedly from England states.
Allegedly two sets of books
EPD reports indicate Case told police on May 17 that after the $12,500 deposit from England and the May 11 email, Peel owners had not heard again from England.
Case alleges that England created two sets of books for the Peel petty cash log, police reports state. When accountants took a closer look at the business' books, Case said, they discovered a formula England allegedly created for the tip pool.
Case told police he suspected that England was keeping money from the tip pool.
After the May 17 interview at EPD, Case and Thirion emailed the assigned officer a summary from Peel accountants that stated $44,200 was stolen, so with the $12,500 that Case said England deposited, the remaining allegedly stolen cash would add up to $31,700, they allege.
According to Case, it was discovered that England kept one spreadsheet for accountants and a separate one for other managers at the restaurant.
After taking the information from Case, EPD forwarded the information to its investigations division and to the Madison County state's attorney's office for consideration of charges.
When officers contacted England in person at his home, he agreed to meet them at the police department for an interview but later called police to say he had contacted an attorney whom he would consult before being interviewed, police reports state.
In fact, EPD officers have not conducted an interview with England, the documents state.
Criminal complaint
Edwardsville police reports indicate that Assistant Madison County State's Attorney Ryan Kemper reviewed the case against England and took the felony warrant to a Madison County judge, who approved it.
The criminal complaint was filed that same day, July 18; England was arrested on that date and entered a not guilty plea on July 19, Madison County court records state.
The court order of $75,000 bond was amended July 19, and England was released on his own recognizance July 20, court records indicate.
His trial date originally was Sept. 5, but was moved to Oct. 30 at the defendant's request, according to court records.
The pretrial services criminal history in this case, a routine filing, shows misdemeanor charges in Madison County and in DeWitt County in England's past, with the most recent being a 2011 conviction of possession of cannabis, for which England received one year of supervision.
The individual arrested has only been charged and remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported.