Will County Employee Charged with Misconduct After Dismissal

An employee of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, Amy Burgett-Masse, has been charged with official misconduct following her termination on May 23, 2025. The office, led by State’s Attorney James Glasgow, has declined to publicly disclose the details of her termination, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

Burgett-Masse, a 45-year-old legal secretary from Elwood, was dismissed as a result of serious allegations against her, which include aggravated computer tampering. The charges, filed on October 6, 2025, assert that Burgett-Masse and her daughter, Ryanne Burgett-Masse, 20, unlawfully accessed and removed data from the office’s computer network. These actions reportedly endangered witnesses involved in criminal cases in Will County.

According to documents obtained by The Herald-News through a Freedom of Information Act request, Burgett-Masse’s termination was formalized in a status change form signed by both Glasgow and his chief deputy, Kenneth Grey. The office’s refusal to release her termination letter is based on claims that it contains non-public information that could interfere with the upcoming prosecution and jury selection.

The investigation into Burgett-Masse began on April 28, 2025, when detectives from the Will County sheriff’s office received information indicating that an employee may have shared confidential information with a known gang member. Will County sheriff’s office spokesperson Kevin Hedemark confirmed the initiation of this investigation.

On April 29, 2025, Burgett-Masse requested time off and sent an email to the human resources department indicating she would not be present that day. She also requested that someone from the office contact her via her husband’s phone.

In 2024, Burgett-Masse was issued an HP EliteDesk computer and had signed forms acknowledging the rules for using office equipment. She also signed a document concerning her access to Illinois Secretary of State data as part of her responsibilities within the office.

The charges against Burgett-Masse and her daughter highlight significant concerns regarding data security and the potential misuse of official resources. As the legal process unfolds, the outcome will be closely monitored, given the implications for the integrity of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.