After a clarification of how the proper sentence should read, Special Judge Jerome Frese accepted the plea agreement put forth by Special Prosecutor Michael Krebes and Defense Attorney Todd Wallsmith.
Former North Judson Clerk Treasurer Sentenced on Theft Charges
Former North Judson Clerk Treasurer Connie Miller will serve a year on home detention and five years on probation as punishment for stealing $74,000 from the town between January of 2010 and December of 2011. She pleaded guilty to three of the 10 felony counts filed against her during a hearing this morning in South Bend. Special Judge Jerome Frese also ordered Miller to pay more than $52,000 in restitution. A civil suit has also been filed against Miller in an attempt to recover some of the money.
Judge Rejects Plea Agreement in Case of Connie Miller
The recommended plea agreement in the case of Connie Miller was rejected by Special Judge Jerome Frese in St. Joseph County Court Monday morning.
The recommendation was that Miller plead guilty to three counts of Theft which would be served concurrently. Those sentences would then be suspended to be served on probation with one year of home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. The restitution amount would be $52,044 as a settlement between Miller and the Attorney General’s Office.
Judge Rejects Miller’s Plea Agreement
A special judge in South Bend has rejected former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller’s plea agreement. Jerome Frese told Miller he will not accept anything less than six years as punishment for the theft of more than $74,000 in public funds from the town of North Judson between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.
The plea agreement would have sentenced Miller to three years on each count to be served concurrently and each of those sentences would be suspended to be served on probation. As part of the recommended plea agreement, Miler would be required to pay court costs, probation fees and serve one year on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. She would also have to pay restitution of $52,044.
Again, that plea agreement was rejected by Judge Frese. A hearing in the matter has been set for June 7 at 10 a.m. ET in St. Joseph County.
Judge Takes Plea Agreement Under Advisement in Miller Case
Special Prosecutor Michael Krebes has filed a plea agreement with the St. Joseph County Court in which Miller would plead guilty to three counts. During a telephonic conference held Monday morning, a pre-sentence investigation was requested and the plea agreement was taken under advisement.
Telephonic Conference to be Held in Case of Connie Miller
Connie Miller is accused of taking $74,408.67 from the town of North Judson during the time in which she served as the town’s Clerk-Treasurer from Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011.
Ten counts have been filed against Miller; nine counts of Theft and one count of Official Misconduct, which are Class D Felonies. The charges, which were filed Aug. 22, allege that Miller took unauthorized control over cemetery lot sales, utility receipts, and other deposits and payments from the town.
Court Hearing Set for April 8 for Connie Miller
North Judson Reimbursed Part of Allegedly Embezzled Funds
Case Against Former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Will Be Heard By St. Joseph Court Judge
The criminal case against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller will now be heard by the Judge of the St. Joseph Superior Court, Jerome Frese.
This announcement comes after attorney Todd E. Wallsmith has taken the defendant’s case and will appear as her counsel, which presents a problem as he is within the third degree of relationship to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall’s wife. According to Indiana law, a judge must disqualify himself in any proceeding in which a person within the third degree of relationship to the judge’s spouse is acting as a lawyer in the proceeding.
Initial Hearing for Todd Boldry Scheduled for This Week in Starke Circuit Court
Friday, Aug. 31 will be a busy day in the Starke Circuit Court as at least two heated court cases proceed to their initial hearing before Judge Kim Hall.
Former Knox High School Basketball Coach Todd Boldry will appear for his initial hearing at 9 a.m., where he faces charges of Child Seduction and Official Misconduct as Class D felonies. Starke County Prosecutor Nick Bourff says each of those counts carry a sentence between six months and three years, as well as up to a $10,000 fine. Boldry was arrested on school grounds Friday amidst allegations of sexual misconduct with a student that occurred as early as 2007.
Ten Counts Filed Against Former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer
Ten counts have been filed in the Starke Circuit Court against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller. The charges, which were filed Aug. 22, allege that Miller took unauthorized control over cemetery lot sales, utility receipts, and other deposits and payments from the town during her time as clerk-treasurer.
The charges stem from a special report for the Town of North Judson filed by the State Board of Accounts earlier this year citing alleged financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 during the period of time between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011. Miller was asked to reimburse the town for the alleged discrepancies.
Special Deputy Prosecutor Michael P. Krebes filed the charges against Miller, which consist of nine counts of Theft and one count of Official Misconduct as Class D felonies. The counts of Theft allege Miller kept money from equipment purchases, employee reimbursements, police department receipts, ordinance violation payments, utility customer deposits, and a number of other receipts from the town of North Judson.
Miller’s initial hearing is set for Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. in the Starke Circuit Court.
Hearing Set For Monday In Case Against Connie Miller
The Attorney General filed a civil lawsuit against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller last week.
The lawsuit stems from a special report for the Town of North Judson filed by the State Board of Accounts earlier this year citing alleged financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 during the period of time between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011. Miller was asked to reimburse the town for the alleged discrepancies.
Miller, in a letter to the state board of accounts, wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.” She also wrote that she was confident that the discrepancies set out in the report can be rectified.
North Judson Town Board Discusses Audit Report
The North Judson Town Board this week discussed an audit report from the State Board of Accounts for the audit that had been performed for the town in January and February. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says the report is available online at www.in.gov/sboa, and an official record is available in her office.
Henry says the meeting included some discussion over the audit, which identified financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 with the majority of discrepancies in the cemetery lot sales category. Based on the information posted in the cemetery book, and the confirmations that were returned with receipts, the examiners determined that $40,350 was collected for cemetery lots sales but that amount was not receipted to the records. Former Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller was requested to reimburse the town for this amount, but in a letter to the state board of accounts, Miller wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.”
Interim Starke County Treasurer Selected
Kasey Clark was sworn in last night as the Interim Starke County Treasurer. Clark, who has been running the office since Linda Belork was removed in August, was selected by the Starke County Precinct Committeemen in a caucus last night at the Knox Community Center. Clark won the caucus over Connie Miller of North Judson.
Before the vote each of the women gave a speech listing their reasons for running for the office. Clark repeated part of her address following the vote.
Provisional Ballots Counted in Starke County Clerk’s Office
Republican Donna Henry increased her victory margin to six in the North Judson Municipal Election for Clerk-Treasurer today. The provisional votes were inspected and of the four votes examined, two were approved and two were rejected. The two votes for Henry gave her a 223-217 victory over Connie Miller, the Democrat Incumbent.
Also picking up two votes was Tim Cummins, Republican, for the Town Council Ward 3 race. His new vote total is 278. The vote total for his opponent, Democrat Daniel Anderson, stayed the same at 162.
Provisional Board to Validate Ballots in Municipal Election
The Provisional Board will meet this morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Starke County Clerk’s office to determine if provisional ballots in the North Judson Municipal election will be allowed. Four votes were deemed provisional in the election, which is the number of votes that separates the outcome of the Clerk-Treasurer’s race between Republican Donna Henry and Incumbent Democrat Connie Miller. Henry won the election by a vote of 221 to 217.
Four Provisional Ballots Remain Uncounted in North Judson Clerk-Treasurer’s Race
The recent municipal election in North Judson had Republican Donna Henry defeating incumbent Democrat Connie Miller for Clerk-Treasurer by four votes. Even though it would be a very slim chance, that specific election could end up tied because there are still four provisional votes out.
“Provisional ballots are going to be looked at at 10:00 a.m. on Friday which is the ten day deadline to come up to the Clerk’s Office and show us your ID, or if it’s a voting line problem, then we would determine that also,” said Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski. “There’s four provisional ballots in North Judson and one provisional in Knox.”
Meet the Candidates for North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer
Two well-known people are squaring off for the North Judson Clerk-Treasurer’s position in the General Election on November 8th. Republican Donna Henry is challenging Incumbent Democrat Connie Miller.
Donna enters the race after a 38 year career in banking. She’s married and the mother of three children, plus she is a lifelong resident of North Judson. We asked Donna about plans if she is elected.
Races Ready for Starke County General Election
Following the Hamlet Town Republican Caucus on Sunday, the races are set in Starke County for the November General Election.
In Hamlet on Sunday, Dave Kesvormas defeated Todd Lienbach 20-19 in the Town Council #2 race, and Deb Goble defeated Jill Hovarter 23-16 in the Clerk-Treasurer’s race.
North Judson Town Board Approves Grant Match for Railroad Grant Application
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Secretary, Mark Knebel, attended the recent North Judson Town Board meeting where he informed the Board that the 2011 grant applications have opened and they will be applying for a $235,000 grant. The
grant match is 41% which is $96,350. Co-Alliance and the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad have agreed to pay half of the match if the town could pick up the other half which is $48,175. The Board agreed to pay that amount. The railroad staff hopes to complete more upgrades if awarded this grant.
