Ex-Dixie Chopper president Wilson charged with theft

The former president and one-time chief financial officer of Dixie Chopper/Magic Circle Corp. is facing theft charges following his arrest Thursday.

Simon Paul Delancey Wilson, 39, who was named president and Chief Executive Officer of the Fillmore-based lawnmower manufacturer in October 2011, was arrested Thursday morning in Plainfield where he was reportedly attending the closing on the sale of his home there.

Initially lodged in the Putnam County Jail at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Wilson bonded out at 6:50 p.m. and made his initial appearance in Putnam Superior Court Friday morning in a brief hearing in front of Judge Denny Bridges.

The judge entered a preliminary not-guilty plea for Wilson, represented by Indianapolis legal counsel, and scheduled a pretrial conference for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 12.

Charged with theft, a Class D felony, Wilson could face six months to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if found guilty.

Simon Wilson

A report by investigating officer Det. Pat McFadden of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department alleges that Wilson stole $18,705 in cash and merchandise from the rewards account set up on a corporate American Express Card issued to Magic Circle Corp. in Wilson's name.

He reportedly collected the rewards points from company expenses that were charged to the corporate credit card, allegedly converting them into 17 American Express gift cards of $1,000 each and $1,705 in merchandise he reportedly had sent directly to his Plainfield home.

Wilson has been living and working in Fargo, N.D., since he was asked to resign this past June for "misrepresenting the corporation's financial position," a probable cause affidavit states.

Wilson was elevated to head up Dixie Chopper operations in October 2011 after then-president Gary Morgan was also asked to resign for reasons unrelated to this incident, court documents note.

Morgan was hired from New Holland Corp. in November 2008 to be president and CEO of Dixie Chopper. Soon thereafter, he brought in Wilson from New Holland to be CFO.

Morgan was also issued one of the two original American Express cards acquired when the account was initially opened, Det. McFadden reported. Eventually more cards were added to the account, totaling approximately 40 in 2013.

Dixie Chopper accounts never received any rewards benefits from the American Express program, McFadden's report also noted.

The investigation determined that Wilson did not have Magic Circle Corp. board approval to open a corporate account, as required by corporation bylaws.

Documents indicate Wilson made 13 documented purchases through the rewards program, totaling the $18,705 over the period April 12, 2011-April 5, 2012.

McFadden further noted that Magic Circle provided documentation that none of the cash or merchandise was ever awarded to Wilson as a company bonus. The detective also noted that none of the income was reported on Simon's tax returns.