Sandwich Mayor Resigns After Getting Nabbed In Prostitution Sting

SANDWICH, IL—After being charged in a Lasalle County prostitution sting, the mayor of Sandwich has resigned effective immediately, officials said. Mayor Richard Olson, 66, was charged Friday with solicitation of a sexual act in connection to a March 14 incident, according to court records.

City Clerk Denise Ii said Olson submitted a resignation letter to her Monday, but it is non-compliant because it hasn’t been notarized.

“We have a meeting tonight at 7, and I anticipate he’ll have that notarized by that time,” she said. “I will be reading the resignation letter at the council meeting.”

Ii said Olson has emptied his office of his belongings and is believed to have resigned effective immediately.

“He definitely has resigned,” she said. “It’s just a formality of it being in proper order according to statute.”

The undercover investigation took place on three separates dates dating back to 2016, officials said. The first portion saw three females arrested for prostitution.

During the second portion of the investigation, which occurred on March 14 and April 4, authorities charged eight individuals with solicitation of sexual acts and one person with solicitation of a sexual act, attempted solicitation of sexual act, and battery. Officials said the nine men were interviewed and released on these dates.

All those charged in the prostitution sting are scheduled to appear in court May 31.

Ii said Olson will not be present Monday for the Sandwich City Council meeting.

Ii intends to call the meeting to order, read the letter of resignation, and enter a motion to appoint a mayor pro-tem from the council.

“That person will be in the charge of the meeting tonight,” she said.

That selection will not be a permanent action for the Sandwich City Council.

Ii said the city may need to hold a special meeting and come up with a game plan to fill the remaining term length for the vacant seat.

Olson’s term is scheduled to expire April 2021.