Mayor charged with theft resigns

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GREGORY — Facing multiple charges of felony theft and drug possession, Gregory Mayor Wade Juracek has submitted his letter of resignation.

Al Cerny, city finance officer for Gregory, said the City Council approved the letter and voted to appoint City Council President Dan De Smet mayor for the remainder of Juracek’s term, which will end in May 2010.

The council agreed to have city attorney George Johnson draft a letter requesting Juracek’s resignation on Feb. 9. Juracek responded Monday with the resignation.

Juracek, 38, has been accused of stealing prescription drugs from several Gregory County homes. He will appear at a preliminary hearing in Burke on Feb. 24.

He faces nine felony charges, including three counts of possession of a controlled substance, three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by theft and three counts of second-degree burglary. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison and $70,000 in fines.

A call to Juracek’s home Tuesday was not answered.

On Feb. 2, Juracek apologized to the council for his recent absences from council meetings. At that time, Juracek admitted an addiction to prescription painkillers that he said stemmed from medical complications related to osteocolitis.

Juracek said his addiction led to “a few poor decisions,” but said he had decided against resigning.

Seven total Gregory and Burke residents said Juracek visited their homes in December and asked to use the restroom. Of the seven, three reported thefts of Oxycodone or morphine.

Gregory County Sheriff’s Department Deputy J.J. Wolf visited Juracek after Juracek had checked himself into a treatment center in January.

According to Wolf’s police report, Juracek admitted to the thefts and an addiction to painkillers. Court papers say Juracek resorted to stealing when he was unable to obtain the amount of pain medication he needed.

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