Guilty Pleas Entered From Indictments
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Two of six people indicted in 2001 by a Kosciusko County grand jury have pleaded guilty in Kosciusko Circuit Court to charges pending against them.
Kurt Owens of Silver Lake, admitted taking money collected through South Central Emergency Medical Service for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department received a Crime Stoppers tip in September 2001 indicating there was a possible mishandling of money by Owens, the then-director of SCEMS, and monitored the situation for a short time before the investigation became full-blown.
SCEMS conducted a fund-raiser after the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies and collected more than $6,000 for the National Police and Fire Disaster Relief Fund. When Owens was questioned about a receipt for the money, he allegedly provided false documentation, including a nonexistent address for where the money was to be sent.
Sentencing on the theft charge is set for June 2.
Also pleading guilty was Marsha J. Eikenberry Streby of North Webster, who is charged with theft of funds from the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District.
Streby reportedly misappropriated more than $18,000 while serving as director of the agency. The discrepancies were detailed in an audit report filed by the State Board of Accounts and the monies were reportedly used for personal bills and merchandise. Her sentencing is set for June 30.
Charges stemming from the grand jury remain pending against:
• Scott Stephens and Brandon Swindell, both of whom were associated with SCEMS. Both are charged with theft in connection with the misappropriated disaster relief funds.
• Pamela Jo Houser and her daughter, Beth Howatt, both of Syracuse, were each indicted on one count of theft, a Class D felony, and one count of welfare fraud, a Class C felony, for allegedly "exerting unauthorized control" over property of Combined Community Services and concealing information to allow another person to receive public assistance for which the recipient was not entitled.
Houser was former director of Combined Community Services-North and formerly served as quality child care coordinator for CCS. [[In-content Ad]]
Two of six people indicted in 2001 by a Kosciusko County grand jury have pleaded guilty in Kosciusko Circuit Court to charges pending against them.
Kurt Owens of Silver Lake, admitted taking money collected through South Central Emergency Medical Service for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department received a Crime Stoppers tip in September 2001 indicating there was a possible mishandling of money by Owens, the then-director of SCEMS, and monitored the situation for a short time before the investigation became full-blown.
SCEMS conducted a fund-raiser after the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedies and collected more than $6,000 for the National Police and Fire Disaster Relief Fund. When Owens was questioned about a receipt for the money, he allegedly provided false documentation, including a nonexistent address for where the money was to be sent.
Sentencing on the theft charge is set for June 2.
Also pleading guilty was Marsha J. Eikenberry Streby of North Webster, who is charged with theft of funds from the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District.
Streby reportedly misappropriated more than $18,000 while serving as director of the agency. The discrepancies were detailed in an audit report filed by the State Board of Accounts and the monies were reportedly used for personal bills and merchandise. Her sentencing is set for June 30.
Charges stemming from the grand jury remain pending against:
• Scott Stephens and Brandon Swindell, both of whom were associated with SCEMS. Both are charged with theft in connection with the misappropriated disaster relief funds.
• Pamela Jo Houser and her daughter, Beth Howatt, both of Syracuse, were each indicted on one count of theft, a Class D felony, and one count of welfare fraud, a Class C felony, for allegedly "exerting unauthorized control" over property of Combined Community Services and concealing information to allow another person to receive public assistance for which the recipient was not entitled.
Houser was former director of Combined Community Services-North and formerly served as quality child care coordinator for CCS. [[In-content Ad]]