Will County Gazette

Litigation is expected to be filed on behalf of at least three of the 13 staff and volunteers, including former guards, who have been removed from Joliet Area Historical, which oversees the Old Joliet Prison, since May.

The litigation will likely be directed personally at Museum Chief Executive Officer Greg Peerbolte who is accused of launching the mass termination after his wife was allegedly insulted in a Facebook group.

One of the terminated employees, who declined to speak publicly given the pending litigation, told Will County Gazette the group expects more will join the case.

“Right now there's going to be possible litigation against the place,” the former employee said.

Ronald F. Neville, of  Neville & Mahoney, is representing those terminated. Neville did not respond to a request for comment.

The dismissals have been surrounded by accusations tied to website postings, leaving some terminated individuals shocked and contesting their involvement, prompting an investigation by the City of Joliet's inspector general.

Peerbolte accused the terminated employees and volunteers of sending “threatening messages on Facebook.”

“He (Peerbolte) said we are guilty by association because we are on the same Facebook page,” Mike Johnson, who worked at the site for 16 years, told Shaw Local News Network. 

One of those terminated, 70-year-old gift shop worker Ron Trujillo, said he does not know how to access the internet and has no social media presence.

“I said, ‘OK, but I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ ” Trujillo told Shaw Local News Network.

“I’m walking out, and he’s still talking at me. He said, ‘You insulted my wife.’ I said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ ”


Sean Connolly, inspector general for the city of Joliet, said the city is investigating the 13 terminations that have occurred in a short period. 

“The reason we’re investigating is the number of terminations in that short period of time. We feel we owe it to the employees to make sure everything is proper.”

Peerbolte is Chief Executive Officer of the Joliet Area Historical Museum/Old Joliet Prison Historic Site.

He has been in the role for 13 years and also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors Heritage Corridor Convention.

He holds a B.A. in History with a specialization in environmental history as well as an associate’s degree from Kankakee Community College.

“Non-profit professional with nearly fifteen years of administrative and operating experience in the field; Experienced in the art of successful fundraising and sound fiscal management & budgeting; Extensive background in development, public relations, marketing, and community outreach; Published author and thorough researcher; Widespread appearances in print, online, radio and television media in local, regional and national markets; Expertise in social media and web-based promotion; Practiced in Board relations and development, both working with and serving on BODs,” Perrbolte’s LinkedIn accounts reads.

Previously, Peerbolte was Executive Director of the Mount Prospect Historical Society.

He left that role in 2013.