State sues trustees for missing reports

The Indiana State Board of Accounts filed civil suits against a pair of Putnam County township trustees for failing to file financial reports for the 2017 fiscal year.

Every state or local governmental unit is required by Indiana Code to file an annual financial report no later than 60 days after the close of each fiscal year.

According to separate petitions by the SBOA filed in Putnam Circuit Court, Clinton Township Trustee Brenda Heacock and Russell Township Trustee Candy Stewart have thus far failed to do so for 2017.

The filings are civil in nature and there are no criminal charges attached. At this time, the filing is simply to ask the court to enforce the subpoenas.

The petitions state that on March 19, the SBOA filed subpoenas ordering the trustees to appear at the SBOA office in Indianapolis on April 10 and to produce “any and all documents and records relating to the financial affairs” of their respective townships for 2017.

Both trustees have been summoned to appear before Judge Matt Headley in Putnam Circuit Court on Monday, Nov. 26.

Both of these trustee positions appear on the upcoming ballot, though the court filings are unlikely to have any bearing on the outcome.

Heacock is not seeking another term, while Stewart is unopposed in her bid for re-election.