http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx
CCO COMMENTARY: BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NON-PROFIT ENTITIES HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NON-PROFIT ENTITIES HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY
The boards of directors of non-profit entities have a fiduciary duty to assure that the accounting of that non-profit is carried out in a way that guarantees sufficient oversight of the funds that have been entrusted to the non-profit that they serve. A fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care. The person(s) who has a fiduciary duty is called the fiduciary, and the person(s) to whom he owes the duty, is typically referred to as the principal or the beneficiary. If an individual breaches the fiduciary duties, he or she would need to account for the ill-gotten profit.
Evansville’s Echo Housing is in the midst of something that is most certainly a failure of its board of directors to provide sufficient oversight of the taxpayer dollars that have been allocated to its day to day operation. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Echo’s former Executive Director, Stephanie Tenbarge who is alleged to have used Echo Housing funds to pay her personal expenses is also the Secretary (non-voting) of the Echo Housing board of directors. That will put Tenbarge in a doubly problematic position of being both a responsible fiduciary and a staff member who allegedly committed the crime of theft. The other board members have not been alleged to have stolen any money but have most certainly failed in their fiduciary duties.
To further complicate the situation at Echo Housing, the board of directors has thus far chosen to avail themselves of opportunity of cooperating with the Evansville Police Department that is poised to conduct investigation of the alleged crime of theft at the expense of the taxpayers of Evansville, the State of Indiana, and the United States. As donations made to a 501c3 non-profit like Echo Housing are deductible at the state and federal level, theft of said funds would constitute theft from all of the taxing authorities impacted by that deductibility.
It is confounding that the Echo Housing board of directors is refusing to do what is needed to gain the assistance of law enforcement when taxpayer dollars are involved. Perhaps there is an internal investigation going on that is fully comprehensive and the Echo Housing board wants to complete the internal investigation prior to allowing law enforcement to do its duty. Time will most certainly reveal the motive for obstructing any immediate investigation.
Theft from non-profits has been common in greater Evansville. Other instances have resulted in prosecutions, plea bargains, and often in restitution. This is what should happen in this case and the Echo Housing board of directors is responsible to cooperate or even participate in assuring that the taxpayers are made whole. Non-profits are required to have annual audits and file tax returns. The audits and tax returns of Echo Housing would make a good place to start investigating just what happens to the money that is trusted to this board of directors.
There is one thing that is not up to the Echo Housing board of directors and that is to choose whether or not the laws of the land with respect to theft will be enforced. Much like the Mayor of Oakland, California who has chosen to obstruct federal law by resisting the efforts of federal immigration officers to maintain her Sanctuary City stance, the Echo Housing board of directors is aiding and abetting an alleged crime by failing to cooperate with the Evansville Police Department.Â
The EPD can seek a warrant to be granted access to the financial records of Echo Housing. With a warrant, they will be capable of investigating all of the financial transactions of the entity. Let us hope that the Echo Housing board of directors comes to their senses and provides the fiduciary duties that they are responsible for providing. That starts with departing from the current path of running a Sanctuary non-profit agency.
FOOTNOTE: We were extremely impressed how EPD Communications officer Jason Cullum conducted himself at yesterday’s news conference. Lieutenant Cullum was masterful.
We would like to know who are the current ECHO Housing Boards member and who is responsible for appointing them.Â
Newest IURC Commissioners Face Rate Hike Proposal
Newest IURC Commissioners Face Rate Hike Proposal
By Quinn Fitzgerald
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – The newest members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission face a decision that could lead to a hike in the electric bills of some Hoosier consumers.
The Indianapolis Power & Light Company wants to increase customers’ electric bill rates to cover the cost of replacing older coal plants. If the IURC approves the request, the typical Hoosier customer could see their bill increase by about $14 per month by the end of 2018, according to a release by IPL.
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday announced the appointment of Rep. David Ober, R-Albion, as a commissioner on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, a vacancy created by the retirement of Jim Atterholt.
Jim Huston, a commissioner on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, and Rep. David Ober, R-Albion, attend a media availability at Gov. Eric Holcomb’s residence. Photo by Quinn Fitzgerald, TheStatehouseFile.com
Holcomb also announced that Jim Huston will serve as chairman of the IURC. Huston has served as the interim chairman since Atterholt retired in early January. IURC will soon begin accepting applications to fill another commission vacancy as Commissioner Angela Weber’s term expires April 1.
“Any change in the make-up of the commission, especially with the injection of some new faces and some youth, hopefully, that will turn things for the better,†Kerwin Olson, executive director of Citizens Action Coalition, said. “The commission has not been friendly to consumers lately so a shake-up will hopefully lead to better outcomes for the public.â€
CAC is an organization that advocates for Hoosiers in utility-related issues, including intervening in rate cases before the IURC. Olson said there has been an imbalance in interests of the public and utility companies, giving utility companies more support than the public. He said he opposes IPL’s request because it is financially healthy while IPL customers are struggling to pay their electric bills, among other financial concerns.
“It’s customers that need a break. The company is doing fine,†Olson said.
During his nearly six-year legislative service, Ober chaired the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee. Ober said being chairman of the committee will help him transition into his role as a commissioner.
“My experience as chairman of the committee has been much like a consensus builder,†Ober said. “My job has been mostly to bring the parties together and meet with them to talk about what their goals are, what their needs are, and where the policy needs to land to be a good compromise for all those who are involved. That’s very similar to what the commission does.â€
The IURC consists of five commissioners and a staff of about 75 accountants, economists, engineers, attorneys and other professionals. Both Olson and Ober said while there is a learning curve, the staff will help Ober and other new commissioners as they move into their roles.
“I’d like to think I’m prepared for whatever’s thrown at me when I get to the commission,†Ober said.
While he is excited to be joining IURC, he said he is going to the miss his time at Statehouse mostly because of the friends and colleagues he’s made.
“It’s a little bittersweet to move on to this new role,†Ober said. “I think the person who walked through those doors in 2012 and the person who leaves them in 2018 are two very different people.â€
Monday, Holcomb called for a special legislative session, expected in May, but because Ober will resign as a representative April 1 and begin his role as commissioner April 2, he will not be joining his fellow lawmakers.
“I’ll be moving to Indianapolis and working in Indianapolis so when folks come in for the special I hope to see them socially, not professionally,†Ober said.
FOOTNOTE: Quinn Fitzgerald is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Sullivan’s Legislation Streamlining Workforce Development Programs Now Law
Gov. Eric Holcomb recently signed into law legislation co-authored by State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) helping streamline Hoosier workforce programs and funding.
According to Sullivan, Indiana currently spends about $1 billion across nine agencies that offer 30 different workforce programs. Under the new law, there will be an evaluation of the state’s workforce programs and funding to find both strengths and areas in need of improvement using return-on-investment metrics enacted in 2017.
“With this new law, we can better ensure the state is utilizing resources to best connect hardworking Hoosiers with jobs in high-demand fields,†Sullivan said. “By restructuring and streamlining our state’s workforce development programs, individuals will have more access to the training needed to secure high-wage employment.â€
Sullivan said a pathway will also be established for individuals enrolled as part-time, post-secondary students to participate in the Employment Aid Readiness Network Indiana Program, or EARN. This is a need-based program providing access to internships and offering funds to employers hiring EARN students.
The law also expands access to Workforce Ready Grants so more Hoosiers can take advantage of the program. These grants can be used to pay tuition costs for Hoosiers to earn a high-value certificate through programs at Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University.
Indiana Wins Two NCAA Championships on Thursday Night
The No. 3-ranked Indiana University men’s swimming and diving team had the best night at the NCAA Championships in 41 years on Thursday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
Indiana won two NCAA titles on Thursday night, surging to the top of the team leaderboard with 169 points. NC State sits in second with 165 points, while Texas is third with a total of 159.
Michael Hixon won the first individual NCAA title for the Hoosiers since 2008, winning the crown in the 1-meter dive with a total of 464.40. The NCAA title is the third in Hixon’s career, who won the 1-meter and 3-meter championships his freshman year at Texas.
The NCAA championship is the first diving title for Indiana since Mark Lenzi won the 1-meter in 1990. Hixon’s great score of 464.40 on Thursday ranks as the seventh-best score in IU history.
James Connor made it a 1-3 finish for the Hoosiers in the event, placing third overall with a score of 440.55. The redshirt junior’s total is the 10th-best in program history.
In the Consolation Final of the 1-meter dive, freshman Andrew Capobianco placed 11th overall with a score of 348.90. Hoosier diving was huge on Thursday, earning an impressive 42 points.
Just about 20 minutes after the 1-meter dive, Indiana won a second NCAA title, touching first in the Championship Final of the 400 medley relay. The Hoosier team of Gabriel Fantoni, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza and Blake Pieroni won with a Big Ten, school and pool record time of 3:01.07.
The relay title is the first for the program since 1977, when IU also took home the championship in the 400 medley relay. The two NCAA crowns in one year is a first for the Hoosiers since 1977. The two victories give Indiana 82 NCAA titles in program history.
In the Championship Final of the 200 IM, Lanza took sixth overall with a Big Ten and IU school record time of 1:40.82. Finnerty placed eighth in the A-Final with a time of 1:44.25, marking the first time since 1975 that IU had two swimmers in the Championship Final of the 200 IM.
For the first time since 1976, the Hoosiers had a swimmer in the Championship Final of the 50 freestyle. Pieroni took eighth overall in the A-Final, touching the wall in a time of 19.17 – the seventh-best time in school history.
In the 200 freestyle relay, the IU team of Ali Khalafalla, Blake Pieroni, Bruno Blaskovic and Josh Romany won the Consolation Final to place ninth overall with a school record time of 1:16.31.
A total of 10 Hoosiers earned All-America or Honorable-Mention All-America honors on Thursday. Pieroni earned his staggering fourth of the week to give him 16 for his career, while both Lanza (12th career) and Finnerty (7th career) earned their third of the week.
Khalafalla earned his 10th career honor while Hixon notched his seventh. Connor earned the sixth of his career, while Romany earned his second. Blaskovic, Fantoni and Capobianco all earned the first of their careers.
The No. 3-ranked Indiana University Hoosiers will continue competition at the 2018 NCAA Championships on Friday morning with the prelims of the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 3-meter dive. Action gets underway at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Three Evansville Residents Arrested on Drug Charges, Mother Arrested for Neglect
Vanderburgh County – Yesterday afternoon at approximately 4:21, Indiana State Police, US Marshal Service Task Force and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department responded to 681 Sweetser Avenue to locate and arrest Jaci McQueen, 22, who was wanted on a Vanderburgh County felony warrant. When officers entered the residence they found McQueen sleeping in a downstairs bedroom. She was arrested without incident. Officers discovered a plastic bag in her front pants pocket containing five ½ pills that were later identified as Clonazepam and Alprazolam, both Schedule IV Controlled Substances. She also had a syringe in her purse.
There were also two other adults and two children inside the residence. The adults were identified as Kandice Rhodes, 28, and Darian Watt, 28, both residing at the residence. Rhodes’ two children, an 8-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl were also present. Rhodes was in possession of a small bag of marijuana.
Watt was located in an upstairs bedroom. Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana when they entered the bedroom and observed a small amount of marijuana and several pills on a nearby TV stand. A black safe-box containing 110 grams of marijuana, two boxes of Ziploc baggies and one digital scale was located on Watt’s bed. A local wanted check revealed Watt was wanted out of Vanderburgh County for failure to appear.
All three adults were arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail. Watt and McQueen are currently being held without bond. Rhodes is currently being held on bond. Rhodes’ two children were released to her grandmother.
Arrested and Charges:
- Jaci R. McQueen, 22, Evansville, IN
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
- Visiting a Common Nuisance, Class A Misdemeanor
- Petition to Revoke Probation (Warrant)
- Darian A. Watt, 28, Evansville, IN
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Class 6 Felony
- Dealing Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
- Failure to Appear for Possessing Marijuana (Warrant)
- Kandice D. Rhodes, 28, Evansville, IN
- Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
- Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
- Neglect of a Dependent, Class 6 Felony
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Class 6 Felony
- Failure to Appear (Warrant)
BRAUN AND HAMMER TO HOLD A JOINT ” MEET AND GREET”
United States Senate Candidate, Mike Braun and Vanderburgh County Commissioner Candidate Steve Hammer will hold a joint public meet & greet at Roca Bar North on Monday, April 16th from 4-7pm.
The two like-minded, conservative southern Indiana businessmen met in December at the Congress of Counties event in Indianapolis and found they had much in common.
Braun and Hammer have similar histories. Both returned to their respective hometowns after completing their college careers. Both started businesses that benefitted their communities with jobs. Both are political outsiders that want to see a change in the way government is run. Both want to see the government make it easier for businesses to start up, expand, or relocate to our local communities.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Taylor Kaine Grayson: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony)
Benjamin Rapheal Crowe: Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 6 Felony)
James Matthew Johnson: Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger less than 18 years of age (Level 6 Felony)
Kelsey Kay Grayson: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
William Lee Zeigler: Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony)
William Arthur Paul Martin: Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)
Andgrie Lamont Turner: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Visiting a common nuisance – controlled substances (Class B misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Maurice James Watson: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor)
Brenda Marie Wilson: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony)
Jacob Von Brothers: Operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.15 or more (Level 6 Felony)
George D. Jones Jr.: Domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman (Level 5 Felony), Attempt Obstruction of justice (Level 6 Felony), Disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor)
James Howard Shea III: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Marcy Anne Malczewski: Dealing in a synthetic or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony)
Shane Christopher Terry: Operating a vehicle while intoxicated (Level 6 Felony)
Derrick Walker Faria: Robbery (Level 5 Felony)
Phoebe Louise Coomes: : Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession or use of a legend drug (Level 6 Felony), Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Ramon Delon Jeters: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Theft (Class A misdemeanor), Interference with the reporting of a crime (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class A misdemeanor)
James Edward Coon Jr.: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Timothy Shea Smith: Child seduction (Level 5 Felony), Child seduction (Level 5 Felony), Attempt Child seduction (Level 5 Felony), Child seduction (Level 6 Felony), Child seduction (Level 6 Felony)
Amanda Ann Slaton: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession or use of a legend drug (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession or use of a legend drug (Level 6 Felony)
Kristine Leanna Pruiett: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Beth Ann Perkins: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Driving while suspended (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Robert Eric Mofield: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Strangulation (Level 6 Felony)
Ashea Tomoko Browning: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Kevin Milligan: Domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman (Level 5 Felony)
Billy Joe Buell Jr: Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony), Criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor)
Lacey Jo Gardner: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony)
Gregory Scott Diehl: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)
Kevin Arnell Johnson: Possession of cocaine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor), Public intoxication (Class B misdemeanor)
Erik Weston Gray: Domestic battery (Level 5 Felony), Criminal confinement (Level 5 Felony)
Darla Dawn Mitchell: Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person with a passenger less than 18 years of age (Level 6 Felony)
Ronald Maurice Lemon: Receiving stolen auto parts (Level 5 Felony), Attempt Theft (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class A misdemeanor)
Shaundea Denise Jones: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemean
Free Mining Training at Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College will offer free mining training at the Princeton Career and Technology Center beginning in April.
The training, MSHA Part 48 is being offered April 9-12 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants must register in person at Ivy Tech’s Princeton Career & Technology Center, 2431 South Crabtree Drive, Princeton.
Proceeds from Indiana Coal Mining Institute license plate sales are making this opportunity available at no cost to participants who meet the general hiring requirements. Participants will be trained and ready for hire on the last day of class.
More than 125 immediate job openings in Gibson County require MSHA Part 48 training. MSHA training is required for all employees, maintenance, and vendors on any mine site. Training is valid for 36 months, so participants can train now and work later. Ivy Tech hopes to continue to offer this training this summer, for Class of 2018 high school graduates that have an interest in a career in coal mining or mining support industries, such as diesel maintenance, engineering, industrial technology, logistics, management, and welding.
John Snowden, mining program director, will coordinate the free mining training classes at Ivy Tech. Snowden boasts nearly 30 years of mining experience and workforce training instruction throughout Southern Indiana.
For more information about free mining training classes, call the Princeton Career and Technology Center at 812-385-8565. Learn more about Ivy Tech Workforce Alignment at ivytech/edu/TrainedAndReady.