Former mayor pleads not guilty to charges

The former mayor of Gillett waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of theft in a business setting, during a brief appearance in Oconto County Circuit Court on July 7.

Meanwhile, the civil lawsuit filed by James A. Beaton, 39, against his former business partners has been transferred from Marinette to Oconto County court on a change of venue, by mutual agreement of the parties involved.

The former mayor filed suit in late December against Russell and Karen Walker, who sold the former Legacy Funeral Chapel on Sept. 6, 2019. According to the lawsuit, the new owner of now-Kuehl Funeral Home informed Beaton Sept. 9 that he was terminated, effective the following day, and he needed to vacate the apartment attached to the business.

The suit alleges that the Walkers breached three agreements signed when Beaton was hired in October 2016. The court documents also allege wrongful eviction in addition to other claims related to their business relationship and the sale.

The two sides have filed conflicting claims, with Beaton stating he was an equal partner and only took money for his salary and reimbursement of personal expenses, while the Walkers allege Beaton was an employee who misappropriated those funds.

The criminal complaint says the Walkers approached Oconto County law enforcement in September with allegations Beaton had been embezzling from the funeral home.

According to the complaint, an accountant for the former owner broke down the amount of money Beaton allegedly misappropriated into 11 separate time frames ranging from two to five months each, totalling $132,227.48.

Judge Michael T. Judge scheduled a status conference in the criminal case for 10 a.m. Aug. 13. The transfer of the civil lawsuit files was completed June 29, and the case has been assigned to Judge Jay N. Conley. No hearings have been scheduled as yet.

Beaton had made himself a name in the city of Gillett, becoming president of the Gillett Business Association and waging a successful write-in campaign for mayor in April 2018. He and the City Council negotiated an agreement for him to step down that was not made public until after his resignation had already taken place Oct. 2.

wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com