They were arrested for sexual abuse involving a minor, but now former Aledo Police Officer Steven Bonynge says that he was treated unfairly by being forced to resign.
Officers Bonynge, 32, and Seth Degelman, 30, had been investigated by the Aledo Police Department after they received a complaint about their sexual abuse of a juvenile. That’s according to Aledo Police Chief J. Michael Sponsler who spoke with reporters from local WQAD 8.
The Chief pointed us to a statement released from attorney Blaise Rogers of Gullbert, Box & Worby, LLC, who said he represents Bonynge. It said that the victim was “slightly under the age of 17.” In other words, she was 16.
But Steven Bonynge later seemed to want to distance himself from the case, saying, “I am not his sole attorney. I am just the messenger. William K. Gullberg and Kyle J. Worby are the partners working on the case as well.”
Bonynge found himself slapped with a class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse, meaning that he used a weapon in the commission of the assault.
Former Officer Degelman, for his part, was charged with class 3 felony. That charge was indecent solicitation and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Again, the “aggravated” bit means he used a weapon in the commission of the crime.
Both officers resigned their positions, Aledo Mayor Chris Hagloch said.
Rogers, the officer’s attorney, said that Bonynge’s resignation was “a direct result of administrative mismanagement by the Aledo Police Department, a reckless disregard for his personal and professional integrity, as well as his rights in the criminal justice system.”
“The accusations do not include the use of force, threat, intimidation, or coercion,” he continued.
Bonynge now claims that he was “being forced out.” He adds that his “resignation is involuntary,” claiming that his arrest and treatment “has been unconscionable.”
Are you crying a river for him yet?
He’s not done. The copy of the resignation letter provided by Rogers, continues the sob story, saying: “I am innocent of this criminal charge but it appears that I have already been convicted by my superiors.”
“Resigning for these reasons is discouraging but, given the circumstances I was put in, I do not have any choice,” the former cop adds. “I know I will not have the opportunity to be rehired or to continue my employment by the Aledo Police Department, but I would like to say that I have performed my duty faithfully and I have nothing but the utmost respect for the residents of Aledo and Mercer County.”