2012-02-23 Crime

Star Center teacher in trouble for alleged thefts




	Kawalec

February 22, 2012 | 08:08 AM

ELKHORN — Star Center Elementary School first-grade teacher Johnalee A. Kawalec, 43, faces a felony charge of theft after she allegedly stole more than $50,000 from an elderly man whose finances were left in her care.

Officially, Kawalec faces a charge of theft of more than $10,000, but the victim claims that between 2005 and 2011, Kawalec wrote more than $50,000 worth of checks without his permission.

If convicted, Kawalec, W1544 Lake Geneva Highway, village of Bloomfield, faces up to 10 years imprisonment and $25,000 in fines.

Kawalec was charged last week and is not in class this week due to surgery, according to Lake Geneva Schools officials.

Crime

Attempted murderer will remain under community supervision

Sexual contact with teen sends youth minister to county jail

Recent Crime

Man committed after biting officer
Feb 16, 2012

Elkhorn man receives four years prison for assaulting girl
Feb 09, 2012

Police arrest two in drug bust
Feb 09, 2012

Lake Geneva man pleads in attempted homicide case
Jan 26, 2012

Jury convicts man of sexual assault
Jan 26, 2012

Extras

e-mail this article link to a friend

Larger | Smaller

A few weeks ago, she told school leaders, including Star Center Principal Betsy Schroeder and District Superintendent Jim Gottinger, about her legal troubles. However, Gottinger said she didn't tell him the severity of the pending charges.

Gottinger and Schroeder did not know the charges had been filed until they were contacted by the Regional News Monday.

Kawalec's attorney, Vincent Bauer, said he is compiling information on the case and is "confident we'll be able to find a resolution."

Gottinger said he couldn't speak further about the situation and plans to discuss the issue with the district's legal counsel as the case proceeds through the court system. A March 6 preliminary hearing has been scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police met with a man who said that in July 2005 he appointed his nephew's wife, Kawalec, and his nephew as his power of attorney.

The victim told police he was receiving income from a pension, Social Security and from rental properties. Kawalec was suppose to deposit those checks every month.

However, when the victim reviewed his account, he saw that all the checks weren't deposited.

In 2010, the victim moved into a nursing home, and while he was in there, Kawalec asked for $130,000 to buy out her husband's portion of their home because the couple were getting divorced.

The man gave Kawalec the money, but he would live with her at the village of Bloomfield home for the remainder of his days. The man told police he was in poor health.

In August 2011, the victim overheard Kawalec arguing with her mother and tried to intervene. Then Kawalec told the victim and her mother that they both had to move out of their home.

Police met with the victim who identified multiple checks that had been written from his account and signed by Kawalec that did not benefit him or were authorized by him.

Feedback

Tags: Crime, Top of page

›

Wow
February 22, 2012 | 03:40 PM

I hope it's not as bad as it sounds...

But MAN, look at that house she had, on a teacher's salary? I'm in the wrong business

Common
LG
Re: wow
February 22, 2012 | 05:08 PM

If you don't have the nerve to put your name on a comment like that, then you should probably keep it to yourself.

Common
Re: WOW
February 22, 2012 | 07:08 PM

You OBVIOUSLY are an IDIOT and shouldn't be in ANY business let alone comment on someone else's. I don't even know to whom I'm writing about so ruining your reputation will never come to surface like it has Johnalee's. You apparently have never been introduced to the word MORTGAGE nor are you aware of the fact that she had over fifteen years and two previous home equities put down to build this house on a "teacher's salary"!!!!! She has been a stellar member of this community and a teacher with her MASTER's degree for close to twenty years so yes, she makes a decent living through her own hard work. No where in this article does it state "Kawalec's" version of what has transpired for over ten years with the "victim". This is an example of the legal sytem NOT working!!!!! Portraying and slandering someone so easily and allowing people as small-minded as you to make a comment like that before you know the facts is, to me, libeling someone and should not be allowed. This is not and should not be treated as an "elderly man" being mistreated. Every sole in this community that has ever been around either of them for the past TEN YEARS knows otherwise. They all know that she has been "the victim's" ONLY family and caretaker and has loved him very, very much and has always put him first. A family argument all of a sudden has changed all this. This is an incredible injustice!!!! Open your mouth or comment on this situation if and ONLY when you know what you're talking about. It's morans like you that turn our justice system upside down with your small-minded opinions that allow accusations to run wild. Shame on you for judging a book by its cover!!!!!! Maybe someday someone or some "elderly" man may accuse you of something you didn't do after ten years of loving care on the flip of a coin and may God help you!!! PURE INJUSTICE!

TN
manager
February 23, 2012 | 09:21 AM

This is sad to see a story from one piont of view, Who ever wrote this needs to go back to school, "The man old police he was in poor health."
Is their no one with morals at this news paper? Or is their anyone who edits these articals.

common
lake geneva
Who owns this RAG
February 23, 2012 | 10:31 AM

Who owns this rag, Charlie Sykes?

GNEWS
LG
February 23, 2012 | 12:39 PM

I too said "WOW" when I saw the house. A friend of mine, whose wife is a teacher in Lake Geneva, also said "Wow". This is very simple. There is a paper trail. Who were the supposedly unauthorized checks made out to?? And WOW, there is trouble when you kick the old guy out of the house that he paid at least half for? Whoooda thunk???
If she cant explain those checks (especially if they are made out to her) she is in a lot of trouble. Oh and some people in lake geneva need to stop watching perry mason reruns.

To all those getting their torches and pitch for
February 23, 2012 | 02:34 PM

HEY common in Lake Geneva!!!

Learn how to spell. it's "there" and "articles". FYI

jess
Pell Lake
Paper Trail....
February 23, 2012 | 05:08 PM

And do you really believe that the Lake Geneva Regional News closely examined this "paper trail?" Nope.... Instead they dragged a good person's name and reputation through the mud solely based on the bitter claims of an old man. Sadly, they know that so many readers have nothing better to do than to eagerly rub salt on the open wounds of a good person without any real basis for opinion at all. Clearly this was the News' intention, as they chose to catch your attention by including the school's name when it has absolutely nothing to do with the claims. Classy move, Regional News.

Will
Lake Geneva
KARMA
February 23, 2012 | 05:10 PM

i'm pretty sure her husband paid for most of it... since their last home was HIS when she moved in and if I recall her home on Grant ST. was not anything "glamous"..THEY built this together... then she had an affair while she was married so she didn't do anything on a "Teachers Salary"

Karma Karma
LKG
Just a thought.....
February 23, 2012 | 07:59 PM

Before anyone decides to either convict or dismiss charges, why don't we wait and see what the investigation turns up????

Enough Already
Lake Geneva
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 23, 2012 | 09:19 PM

I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH JOHNA. I KNEW HERE VERY WELL. I WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH HER AND HER FAMILY. I WORKED WITH HER A FEW TIMES. AT OUR LAST JOB TOGETHER, I HAD A DISPUTE WITH OUR BOSS AND WAS FIRED. SHE TURNED HER BACK ON ME A CALLED ME A PSYCHO. TRUE WE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE FACTS, BUT COME ON..SHE EVEN LOOKS GUILTY. I DO FEEL SORRY IN A WAY BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE HER DOING THIS. BUT IN ANOTHER WAY I JUS HAVE TO SAY...WHO'S THE PSYCHO NOW????? i do send her warm thoughts though....

D
MIDDLETON
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 23, 2012 | 09:45 PM

BEFORE YOU ALL JUMP DOWN MY THROAT, I DON'T WISH JOHNA ANY BAD ILL. I HOPE SHE GETS THROUGH THIS WHETHER SHE DID IT OR NOT. MY POINT IS, PERHAPS PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES BEFORE JUDGING OTHERS.

D
MIDDLETON
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 23, 2012 | 10:11 PM

FURTHERMORE, I APOLOGIZE FOR CALLING JOHNA A PSYCHO. THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR. I HAD NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT.

D
MIDDLETON
Re: KARMA
February 24, 2012 | 09:11 AM

I usually would never respond to this type of sensationalism but someone who knows the facts needs to clear the ruthless idiot that thinks they know it all. It's sad someone actually has to defend someone like Johnalee. First of all, Ray had the first house built before Johna moved into it but had a mortgage and when they married they both payed on it for close to ten years so.... No..... It wasn't Ray's house . The concept of mortgage doesn't seem to get far with you either. Johna also put a nice chunk of equity from her first house even though it was a starter house she bought and sold well so did profit nicely. I don't understand how you can trash talk somebody when you obviously know nothing! As far as an affair???????? Ray was lonnnnnnnng gone doing his own thing way before Johna ever even considered a simple date. Where do you get off commenting on something like that????? What kind of person are you? Get your facts straight or at least say your name and quit acting like a coward behind closed doors. Another small brain with a big mouth that is bored and needs a life.... At the bottom of these comments you were asked not to demean people's character yet you continue to do so without a name. To me and to many others reading this.... All you are is pathetic. I really hope you have something better to do with your time at some point in your life. Please PEOPLE, I know shocking "Teacher" headlines like this will bring out all the loonies like you who think they may deserve a place in this whole nightmare but keep to the facts and don't discredit such an amazing person. Sleep well at night.

TN
Re: Karma
February 24, 2012 | 09:25 AM

I was wrong...actually it doesn't say not to demean someone at the bottom of these comments but CLEARLY you were asked not to write something FALSE about someone that may ruin their reputation. Perhaps following simple instructions are not a part of who you are either. Go watch your soap operas and keep your blatant lies to yourself.

TN
Re: Karma rears it's ugly head
February 24, 2012 | 09:44 AM

Are you kidding me????? Where are you freaks coming from????? I guess this is what the paper wants. I know exactly who you are and this episode occurred almost twenty years ago. The ONLY reason Johna turned around after YOU got fired was because you shouted out to your ex-boss , "What? Do you have to have cancer to keep a job around here?". That was when you knew Johna was battling cancer. What sick person or "psycho" would ever do that? No wonder you're apologizing for your first entry. And as far as your "she even looks guilty" comment- is she supposed to be doing cartwheels and smiling for the camera right after being blown away by the absurdity that had just transpired? Let the facts and the law speak for themselves.

Common
Injustice
February 24, 2012 | 11:41 AM

How very unfortunate that the Lake Geneva Regional News would report a story solely based on the opinions and thoughts of an aging man who required a caregiver to function in daily life, from personal care to finances. The in justice of the reporting of this story has made me think twice of supporting such an irresponsible publication. The amount of $50,000 on the surface may seem to be a large amount, however in caring for an elderly man over the course of six years time, it is merely a drop in a bucket. Medications, doctor appointments, personal belongings etc add up quickly, not to mention transportation services, food and all other basic survival needs.

In regards to her home, several teachers/principles and other school workers maintain residence in some of the most luxurious subdivisions in and around our district. If anyone person cares to make such uneducated comments as â€œnot on a teachersâ€ salary I would urge those of you to consider that.

Lastly, and most importantly, this particular teacher goes above and beyond for her students, I know this not even having a child in her class. Let us commend her for her achievements and accomplishments with her pupils rather that chastise her based on the ranting of one bitter elderly man, who has reaped the benefit of her time, money and home for several years.

Shame on the Lake Geneva Regional News.

Amanda
February 24, 2012 | 12:12 PM

Fact...Ray has been by my sister's side since this started. Fact...the person who wrote "good friend of the family" is unknown to me. Obviously, your definition of "good friend" is way off, and so is your credibility. Fact...the information the newspaper provided was very one-sided. Fact...anyone who makes a comment without putting his/her name on it is a coward and lacks integrity.

Shelly Neidlein Barnard
Melbourne
February 24, 2012 | 12:35 PM

Shelly Neidlein Barnard

Shelly Neidlein Barnard
@amanda and the defenders of teachers
February 24, 2012 | 12:40 PM

1. It seems to me the problem you all have is that the newspaper pointed out this person is a teacher. How many of you people are also teachers???

2. There is an investigation. If all the good teacher wrote checks for were "medications, doctors appointments and survival needs", this would have quickly been settled. Apparently there are other transactions that need further explanation.

3. What did she expect when she kicked the guy out of the house??? Banks are for loans, not old people who might be senile. She should have never got the loan from him and certainly not on the basis of his living there "until the end of his days". I have to question her judgement.

4. It is clear what will happen. Either a plea deal or a "he said, she said" court case where a jury can decide if the checks written were for his needs or not and if not, were they payment for services or gifts, but not theft.

Oh and amanda, pointing out that some teachers and administrators live in the ritzy sections of Lake Geneva should be kept quiet. Every public employee is underpaid (wink wink). Just ask WEAC or any public employee union if its members are adequately compensated.

A local
February 24, 2012 | 12:53 PM

"Let us commend her for her achievements and accomplishments with her pupils rather that chastise her based on the ranting of one bitter elderly man, who has reaped the benefit of her time, money and home for several years."

She at the very least reaped the benefit of his money to purchase her half of the home from hubby. Old men tend to get annoyed when you take money from them and then give them the boot from the house they paid for. What did she think was going to happen when she told him to leave? He would just forget about the hundred plus grand he gave her???

No loan agreement. No caregiver agreement. No nothing. A good lesson to you people who cant go to the bank and instead are thinking about taking money from some old person and will help them manage finances.

Smart enough to know
Relax
February 24, 2012 | 01:02 PM

It is an unfortunate event, and I hope the allegations are in fact false. I am sure she is a wonderful teacher and it clearly seems to be a he-said/she-said.

In the wake of the Walker situation and all teacher's crying foul - please do not tell me that the same poor, poor people that are asked to contribute 10% to their own fringe benefits are living in lavish & ritzy areas... I thought asking them to contribute was putting them in the poor house?

The mortgage on an 800,000 dollar house and property is roughly $4,000 - that is probably what makes this unfortunate event suspicious to some that may read this article....

Let's let the facts come out and hope this is all a misunderstanding.

Gomer
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 24, 2012 | 03:42 PM

FIRST OFF, I NEVER KNEW JOHNA HAD CANCER. THAT BREAKS MY HEART. SECONDLY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM OR WHAT HAPPENED, SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

I DO BELIEVE JOHNA IS A GOOD PERSON. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF SHE DID THIS OR NOT, BUT THEY MUST HAVE A LOT OF EVIDENCE IF THEY ARE FILING CHARGES AGAINST HER.

WHETHER SHE DID IT OR NOT IS IRRELEVANT. SHE PUT HERSELF IN THIS SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN IF SHE IS INNOCENT, HER REPUTATION IS SCARRED. SUCH AS IN MY CASE. I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY BOSS AT THAT TIME. I ASKED FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO CONFRONT HER. IT GOT BACK TO HER THE WRONG WAY, AND I GOT FIRED. WHEN I TRIED TO PROVE TO HER IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING AND I WAS SORRY, THAT IS WHAT GOT ME IN TROUBLE.

JOHNA WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I UNDERSTOOD THAT. FOR HER TO CALL ME A PSYCHO WHEN SHE KNEW I WAS PICKED ON IN SCHOOL AND DID NOT KNOW HOW TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF WAS REALLY CRUEL. THAT WAS WHY I CALLED HER A PSYCHO. HOWEVER, TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT, WHICH IS WHY I APOLOGIZED.

ALL I'M SAYING IS EVERY WOMAN I HAVE HAD A CONFLICT WITH ENDS UP GETTING ARRESTED FOR STEALING, DRUGS, DRUNK DRIVING OR BEATING UP THEIR BOYFRIENDS, IN AND OUT OF REHAB OR ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, RAPED, BEATEN, OR KILLED. ALL I TRY TO DO IS HELP...AND I'M THE PSYCHO.

I DO NOT WISH ANY BAD ILL ON JOHNA. I KNOW SHE'LL PULL THROUGH THIS. WHILE I DO HAVE COMPASSION AND EMPATHY FOR JOHNA; I CANNOT FEEL SORRY FOR HER EITHER. AS SHE ALWAYS TOLD ME WHEN I GOT MYSELF IN TROUBLE OR INTO CONFLICTS WITH OTHERS, WHETHER YOU ARE GUILTY OR NOT, YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THAT SITUATION. THE SAME APPLIES FOR HER.

SO I GUESS WE'LL WAIT AND SEE. I HOPE SHE DID NOT DO THIS. I HOPE SHE BOUNCES BACK. IF SHE DID DO THIS, I HOPE SHE LEARNS FROM IT.

I DO RESPECT HER. EVEN THOUGH ARE NOT IN A FRIENDSHIP ANYMORE, I STILL CONSIDER HER A FRIEND.

D
MIDDLETON
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 24, 2012 | 03:53 PM

FURTHERMORE, I WOULD NEVER EVER SHOUT OUT ANYTHING ABOUT ANYBODY'S CANCER. THAT IS JUST PLAIN MEAN.

I GET UPSET AND DO STUPID STUFF OUT OF FEAR OF STANDING UP FOR MYSELF, BUT I'D NEVER DO THAT. I AM HURT THAT SOMEONE WOULD EVEN ACCUSE ME OF THAT. IN FACT, I THINK I WAS FIRED LONG BEFORE THAT EVER HAPPENED.

SHELLY, YOU KNOW WHO I AM. I USED TO COME OVER ALL THE TIME TO SEE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAME TO SEE ME IN THE HOSPITAL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AMANDA..YOU MADE SOME VALID POINTS.

I DID NOT MAKE MY COMMENTS BASED ON HER BEING A TEACHER. I SUPPORT TEACHERS.

MY COMMENTS WERE PURELY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH THE NEIDLEINS BEING GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE AND WHEN I MADE A MISTAKE, THEY TURNED THEIR BACKS ON ME. I WAS HURT AND I LASHED OUT. I WAS WRONG, AND I ADMIT IT. I FEEL BAD.

BUT WHAT IS DONE IS DONE. I'VE LEARNED TO APOLOGIZE ONCE AND STOP PROVING MYSELF.

WARM THOUGHTS TO JOHNA AND ALL INVOLVED.

D
MIDDLETON
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 24, 2012 | 04:04 PM

IN REGARDS TO HER GOING OUT OF HER WAY AS A TEACHER...JOHNA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. SHE HAS A GOOD HEART. SHE'S ONLY HUMAN.

D
MIDDLETON
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 24, 2012 | 04:13 PM

I AGREE..WHAT JOHNA DID IN HER PERSONAL/ROMANTIC LIFE OR WHERE AND HOW SHE LIVES IS NOBODY'S DAMN BUSINESS. FACT!

D
MIDDLETON
February 24, 2012 | 08:23 PM

D. Middleton...put your name on it, prove it that I know you.

Shelly Neidlein Barnard
Mrs
February 24, 2012 | 10:27 PM

Give Johnalee the benefit of the doubt. Don't judge her until you have all the facts. Have you walked in her shoes? How many of you would have done what she has? I wonder.

We do what God puts before us. We are taught to help others but then they take advantage of us.

Johnalee did not deserve this nor was it necessary for the Regional News to put her picture out there before the facts were known. Lets not judge her that is for God to do.

She is a warm God fearing person and she and her family do not deserve the noterity at this time.

The truth will win out.

Nancy
Lake Geneva
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 25, 2012 | 04:05 AM

WELL SHELLY, I'D LOVE TO. YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO I AM. YOUR FAMILY CAME TO VISIT ME WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER HAVING A HIP SURGERY WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT UW HOSPITAL IN MADISON. IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT, THEN IT IS OBVIOUS YOUR FAMILY WERE NEVER MY FRIENDS. I ONLY GO BY MY FIRST INITIAL NOW. BUT HEY..THAT'S OKAY. I UNDERSTAND. I KEEP MY NAME PRIVATE FOR PERSONAL REASONS.

D
MIDDLETON
KARMA REARS IT'S UGLY HEAD.....
February 25, 2012 | 04:27 AM

I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING JOHNA LOOKS GUILTY. I'VE BEEN WRONGLY ACCUSED OF STUFF IN THE PAST AND I UNDERSTAND HOW IT LOOKS. I DO NOT KNOW THE FACTS, AND I WAS WRONG TO USE MY EMOTIONS FROM OUR PAST DISPUTE TO MAKE A JUDGEMENT. FOR THAT I APOLOGIZE.

SHELLY--I JUST TOLD YOU IN PRIVATE ON FACEBOOK. PLEASE KEEP IT THAT WAY. THANKS!

I'M MOVING ON NOW.

BEST WISHES TO JOHNA AND ALL INVOLVED!

D
MIDDLETON

Site Search

Pick up The Lake Geneva Regional News at these convenient locations

Friday

05 - 24 - 13
06:03

Translation

Search the Net