Charges stem from allegedly forging building permit

Caseyville police arrested businessman and windmill-builder Larry Wetzel on Monday afternoon after a judge signed a warrant for his failing to appear in court on charges he forged a building permit.

A jury found Wetzel guilty of four counts of forgery in September. Prosecutors said he presented a faked building permit to police and a court clerk in an effort to build a wind turbine and power building in Caseyville.

Wetzel remained free on bond until his sentencing, which was originally set for Friday but was continued because St. Clair County Circuit Judge Annette Eckert was out.

Circuit Judge John Baricivec, who covered the hearing, issued an arrest warrant for Wetzel on Friday afternoon after he didn't show up for a hearing.

"He was arrested at his place of business without incident," Police Chief J.D. Roth said.

Wetzel received a permit to demolish a house and garage at 8801 Hatten St. in Caseyville in 2006, but prosecutors said Wetzel later showed Roth an altered version of the permit that approved the building of the windmill and power building.

A television news story broadcast images of the permit when they did a story about the village's attempt to block construction of the mill.

On Friday, Chicago attorney Bruce Brandwein, who represented Wetzel during the trial, was allowed to withdraw from the case.

Wetzel filed suit six times against Fairview Heights after it would not rezone a parcel of land Wetzel owned so he could build a parking lot. Wetzel later lost the property in foreclosure. The land was later rezoned and a parking lot was built.

In 2003, Circuit Judge Jan Fiss signed a temporary restraining order and struck pleadings filed by Wetzel in one of those suits after he sent a citation to discover assets stating he had won a $16 million judgment against then-city land use and development director Tim Tolliver, the city and others.

In 2001, Wetzel battled then-Fairview Heights alderman Dennis Baricevic, the judge's brother, over the use of Wetzel's property on Richfield Road.

Judge Baricevic set Wetzel's bail at $8,000. Wetzel remained in St. Clair County Jail on Monday evening.

Wetzel's sentencing is set for Dec. 18.