The State’s Attorney in Peoria County says enough evidence existed that a late former CEO of a public television station improperly used station money so much that she could have been brought up on felony charges.
Multiple media outlets report State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos came to that conclusion about Lesley Matuszak and her involvement with WTVP.
A day after she was fired in late-September of last year, Matuszak was found dead in her Peoria home of what turned out to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to now-released police reports obtained by local media, Matuszak allegedly misspent $375,000 through things like improperly using a station line of credit and credit card.
But, that’s not where it stopped. Among other additional accusations is even more misspending through liquidating assets and spending money on dues to country and social clubs, and on donations to Peoria State Representative Ryan Spain’s campaign — donations since refunded to the station.
All told, the station may have had as much as $869,000 in lost assets by the end of 2023 — lost assets that Matuszak allegedly tried to cover up.
The station ended up in a $1.5 million budget shortfall, laid off nine employees late last year, and suspended publication of Peoria Magazine, a periodical that had been purchased by WTVP.
The station’s Chief Financial Officer Lin McLaughlin, who later resigned, was not believed to be mentioned. The CFO and Matuszak worked together previously, when running the Boys and Girls Club of Peoria.
In the wake of the death and investigation, almost the entire Board of Directors of Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation resigned. Galesburg Alderperson Heather Acerra, Ward 5, is among those currently on the board, and the station has since hired a new CEO, Jenn Gordon.
WTVP is the last Peoria television station seen on Galesburg cable television.
Station officials have said they hope the releasing of details is a form of closure for the public.
(Disclosure: Will Stevenson has worked for WTVP on a part-time basis in the past, but has not since returning to WGIL this year.)
