Concert promoter turns himself in to face charges

An Ava, Ill. concert promoter who is shouldering tens of thousands of dollars in loans and bad debt turned himself in to Randolph County Wednesday morning to face criminal charges.

The office of Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker said Alex Flores posted bond and was released. A court date for a first appearance was not immediately available.

The complaint charges Flores with failing to pay Butcher's Block Catering $4,252 for catered meals on June 20, 2014, $5,849 for catered meals on June 21 and $356 for catered meals June 19 prior to a concert series last summer at the Sparta Shooting Complex.

Flores, who married and moved from California to Ava, Ill. three years ago, his wife's home, also faces certain civil actions.

The City of Sparta is filing a lawsuit to recover a $50,000 loan it made Flores for the Charlie Daniels Band concert and Fourth of July rodeo last year.

That note was due as of Dec. 31, 2014. Sparta city attorney Alan Farris will draft the lawsuit.

It will be the second lawsuit filed by a municipality. The City of Belleville is trying to recover $101,000 from Flores dealing with last year's bicentennial celebration in Belleville.

At the beginning of the paper trail is $65,000 loaned to Flores by a backer named Arlen Thies of Campbell Hill for a loan in December 2011, which was seed money for the 2012 concert weekend at the World Shooting Complex. Thies first loaned Flores $55,000, then gave him another $15,000 in cash. Flores repaid a small amount of the money.