Felony Charges Filed Against Former Whitley County Auditor
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Theresa Carrano-
McGuire served as Whitley County auditor from January 2011 until she retired from office Aug. 13, 2014. She left the office July 24, 2014, and was paid until her retirement.
Charges include two class C felony counts of theft and one class D felony count of official misconduct. McGuire was arrested and booked into the Whitley County Jail at 2:15 p.m. and released at 7 p.m.
Reports from Indiana State Police Det. Deven Hostetler, assisted by ISP officer Jason Quick, indicate that between Feb. 12, 2011, and June 30, 2014, McGuire knowingly or intentionally made $78,858.89 in undocumented purchases and received $20,311.09 in cash advances and fees with a FIA credit card used by Whitley County departments until March 2013. Although the county switched to another company, McGuire maintained a FIA credit card in her name. She reported her FIA card cancelled in April 2013.
State Board of Accounts auditors were alerted to the theft when deputy county auditors advised them of receiving an unknown credit card bill.
The SBOA audit shows a total of $102,882.40 was charged to the FIA credit card and used to purchase airline tickets to Las Vegas and Panama, Fla., vacation expenses, a stay in the Chicago Renaissance Hotel Presidential Suite, a Kid Rock concert, clothing, food, fuel and personal bills such as cellular telephone, utilities and DirectTV. More than $1,000 was charged to buy “coins” on Facebook casino online games.
McGuire posted highlights of her vacations and documented the installation of new kitchen flooring on her Facebook page.
The investigation also revealed McGuire opened an unauthorized Home Depot credit card in her name and in name of the Whitley County government. The monthly payments were paid by McGuire from Aug. 24, 2012, to July 24, 2014; however, a final balance of $880.58 was paid by Whitley County to avoid additional penalties.
According to the report, the SBOA found the FIA credit card balances were paid from Whitley County’s Redevelopment Fund and listed as Business Card Services. A fake account called the Business Development District had been created to conceal some of the spending.
The SBOA reported a cost of $27,666.24 for their audit and investigation.
The second count indicates McGuire used Indiana Auditors Association checks for her personal use between May 19 and July 17, 2014. McGuire served as the organization’s treasurer.
Five checks were written for a total of $23,886. Individual amounts include $3,750 to the Car Company for a 2011 Suzuki 4-wheeler; $5,000 to Glenbrook Dodge as down payment on a 2014 Jeep Wrangler; $10,636 to Wright Lerch Litow for a debt; $3,500 to pay a Whitley County government credit card balance; and a check made out to “cash” in the amount of $1,000.
The third count charges McGuire, being a public servant, with knowingly or intentionally committing an offense, theft, during the performance of her official duties.[[In-content Ad]]
McGuire served as Whitley County auditor from January 2011 until she retired from office Aug. 13, 2014. She left the office July 24, 2014, and was paid until her retirement.
Charges include two class C felony counts of theft and one class D felony count of official misconduct. McGuire was arrested and booked into the Whitley County Jail at 2:15 p.m. and released at 7 p.m.
Reports from Indiana State Police Det. Deven Hostetler, assisted by ISP officer Jason Quick, indicate that between Feb. 12, 2011, and June 30, 2014, McGuire knowingly or intentionally made $78,858.89 in undocumented purchases and received $20,311.09 in cash advances and fees with a FIA credit card used by Whitley County departments until March 2013. Although the county switched to another company, McGuire maintained a FIA credit card in her name. She reported her FIA card cancelled in April 2013.
State Board of Accounts auditors were alerted to the theft when deputy county auditors advised them of receiving an unknown credit card bill.
The SBOA audit shows a total of $102,882.40 was charged to the FIA credit card and used to purchase airline tickets to Las Vegas and Panama, Fla., vacation expenses, a stay in the Chicago Renaissance Hotel Presidential Suite, a Kid Rock concert, clothing, food, fuel and personal bills such as cellular telephone, utilities and DirectTV. More than $1,000 was charged to buy “coins” on Facebook casino online games.
McGuire posted highlights of her vacations and documented the installation of new kitchen flooring on her Facebook page.
The investigation also revealed McGuire opened an unauthorized Home Depot credit card in her name and in name of the Whitley County government. The monthly payments were paid by McGuire from Aug. 24, 2012, to July 24, 2014; however, a final balance of $880.58 was paid by Whitley County to avoid additional penalties.
According to the report, the SBOA found the FIA credit card balances were paid from Whitley County’s Redevelopment Fund and listed as Business Card Services. A fake account called the Business Development District had been created to conceal some of the spending.
The SBOA reported a cost of $27,666.24 for their audit and investigation.
The second count indicates McGuire used Indiana Auditors Association checks for her personal use between May 19 and July 17, 2014. McGuire served as the organization’s treasurer.
Five checks were written for a total of $23,886. Individual amounts include $3,750 to the Car Company for a 2011 Suzuki 4-wheeler; $5,000 to Glenbrook Dodge as down payment on a 2014 Jeep Wrangler; $10,636 to Wright Lerch Litow for a debt; $3,500 to pay a Whitley County government credit card balance; and a check made out to “cash” in the amount of $1,000.
The third count charges McGuire, being a public servant, with knowingly or intentionally committing an offense, theft, during the performance of her official duties.[[In-content Ad]]
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