Morrison broker’s trial to be continued

MORRISON – It will be at least 4 more months before a Morrison man is tried for allegedly stealing more than $550,000 from 14 area investors over a 2-year period.

Elwin Neal, attorney for Ray Hager, asked Whiteside County Judge John Hauptman to strike the Nov. 17 trial date.

The reason, according to court documents, is to give him more time to disclose a list of potential witnesses to the attorney general’s office, which is prosecuting the case.

Hager, 44, is charged with 10 counts of felony fraud and theft. Prosecutors say he sold unregistered investments that he claimed were federally insured. He has been barred from selling securities in the state since December 2005.

Neal was appointed in January. According to the motion to continue, he needs more time to contact witnesses and review their potential testimony.

Hager now has a pretrial conference on Feb. 24.