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Man charged with stealing from stadium, arena

URBANA — A former employee at Memorial Stadium has been charged with burglary for allegedly stealing from offices there and at State Farm Center.

State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said James Pelham, 24, who listed addresses on West White Street and Briar Lane in Champaign, told University of Illinois police that he had been sleeping recently at the State Farm Center.

Police had investigated recent thefts there as well as at the stadium.

On Thursday morning, Rietz said, staff at State Farm Center reported to police seeing a suspicious person in the building. Later, police stopped Pelham as he walked on Green Street near Locust.