Wenona City Administrator and Economic Development Coordinator William Simmons is charged with trying to use his position to fix a traffic ticket.

Simmons is set for a hearing Thursday, Aug. 13 in Marshall County Circuit Court in Lacon. Wenona straddles the La Salle-Marshall County line. Simmons is charged with official misconduct.

According to Marshall County State's Attorney Paul Bauer, in April 2008 Simmons ordered Wenona Police Chief William Butler to void a state citation Wenona police had issued to Paul Pratt for disobeying a stop sign. Pratt had a restricted driving permit at the time of the citation. Simmons then ordered Butler to issue Pratt a city citation for disobeying a stop sign. Butler is no longer chief.

Bauer said that as a result of Simmons' interference, Pratt was permitted to pay a fine to the city of Wenona, instead of to the Marshall County Circuit Clerk. As a further result, the status of Pratt's restricted driving permit was protected, because the Illinois Secretary of State was not notified of Pratt's violation.

Bauer said police contacted him about the matter, which led him to charge Simmons.

Simmons' Hennepin attorney, Roger Bolin, said Tuesday Simmons will fight the case.

"We believe Mr. Simmons is not guilty and we will strongly resist the charges. They have no basis in law."

Charges were filed before, but Bolin had them dismissed April 27, because of a wording error. Bauer then recently filed the new charges.

Simmons continues to work as city administrator. Mayor Jeff Pickard could not be reached for comment as to what effect, if any, a conviction would have on Simmons' job status. However if Simmons is convicted, he would face probation or prison. Simmons was a Wenona alderman and mayor before becoming city administrator and economic development coordinator in 1998.