Indictments were handed down against six people this week at the conclusion of a two-week grand jury investigation. All of the people involved have connections to public service agencies and misappropriated funds over which they had control, including money targeted for the National Police and Fire Disaster Relief Fund.

"This is about public servants and people who have been entrusted with public money and donated money," Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner said in a press release in answer to why the cases were taken before a grand jury. "The presentations before a grand jury composed of citizens helps keep us all accountable to the people of Kosciusko County."

The indictments were filed Wednesday in Kosciusko Circuit Court and were initially sealed to allow the defendants time to turn themselves in. As of this morning, four of those indicted were booked into the Kosciusko County Jail.

Pamela Jo Houser, 54, of 119 N. Front St., Syracuse, and her daughter, Beth Howatt, 23, of 508 Inwood Circle, Syracuse, were each indicted on one count of theft, a Class D felony, and one count of welfare fraud, a Class C felony. Both women surrendered to authorities Wednesday evening and were released after each posted a $2,000 bond. The true bill for the charges was signed by the grand jury foreman on Nov. 20.

Houser and Howatt are accused of "exerting unauthorized control" over property of Combined Community Services - Houser since 1998 and Howatt in 2001 - and concealing information to allow another person to receive public assistance to which the recipient was not entitled. The alleged welfare fraud was caused by Houser since 1998 and by Howatt since 1999, according to the indictment.

Houser was director of the Combined Community Services-North and formerly served as quality child care coordinator for CCS. She is no longer employed with the agency. Houser was under investigation in February and was placed on administrative leave at that time because of questions regarding reimbursement of child care claims vouchers. No specific information as to the charges was noted in court documents and Waggoner was in court and unavailable for comment this morning.

Marsha J. Eikenberry Streby, 43, of 404 W. Huntington St., North Webster, is charged with theft of funds from the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District. She was booked into the KCJ this morning and posted a $2,000 bond for her release.

No information was available from authorities this morning, but stories previously published in the Times-Union indicate that Streby reportedly misappropriated nearly $20,000 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.

Streby was in a position of authority for the KCSWD from Jan. 1, 1999, until March 16, 2001.

The final three indictments are against three members of South Central Emergency Medical Service, including its CEO.

Kurt Owens, who has not yet been taken into custody, was allegedly using the SCEMS check book "carte blanche to do what he wanted," according to Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine.

Rovenstine said his department received a Crime Stoppers tip Sept. 13 indicating there was a possible mishandling of money by Owens. The sheriff's department monitored the situation for a short time before Silver Lake Town Marshal Craig Hollopeter contacted Rovenstine with information that the complaint was credible, and the investigation became full-blown.

SCEMS also conducted a fund-raiser since the Sept. 11 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.

"They gave him all the authority and he took advantage of it," Rovenstine said.

Also indicted from SCEMS was Scott Stephens, 29, of 9709 S. CR 750W, Claypool, who is charged with theft. He was booked into the KCJ this morning and was released after posting $2,000 bond. Brandon Swindell, also charged with theft, has not yet surrendered to authorities. The true bill for these three men was signed on Tuesday.

Rovenstine said Owens, Stephens and Swindell reportedly divvied up a portion of the disaster relief money, although Owens did produce $1,000 of the funds that were turned over to police, and about $1,200 of the fund-raiser money was put into the SCEMS checking account to cover an ambulance payment which otherwise would not have been made because of the funds missing because of Owens' alleged personal use.

The investigations leading to the indictments were conducted by Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Office of Investigation, Indiana State Board of Accounts, Indiana State Police, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Silver Lake Police Department and Syracuse Police Department. [[In-content Ad]]