John Valenta, who was employed as the station’s engineer for 30 years, pleaded guilty in DuPage County Circuit Court to felony theft in connection with what investigators said was a 16-year scheme that bilked the station out of more than $400,000. As part of his plea agreement, Valenta faces a minimum of six years in prison. Sentencing will be May 19.
He didn't only work at WDCB. I worked with him in the closing years of my time at WJMK. At that time he was the engineer of all the CBS stations in town--a ridiculous cost-cutting move that wreaked havoc on everyone. I had lost track of him until this news emerged.
