Charges dismissed as Cloverdale couple makes restitution for youth league thefts

Theft charges were dismissed this week after a Cloverdale couple made restitution for more than $9,000 they reportedly stole during their time in office as president and treasurer of the Cloverdale Community Youth League.

Stephen D. Caulkins, 41, and Amber D. Caulkins, 37, signed a restitution agreement and paid $9,100 to the Putnam County Clerk Monday, nine days before they were due to appear in Putnam Superior Court.

The Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed a pair of Level 6 felony charges for theft where value is between $750 and $50,000 and conspiracy to commit theft where value is between $750 and $50,000.

The case unfolded in July 2021 as Indiana State Police Master Trooper Det. Brian Maudlin of the Putnamville State Police Post began an investigation into the couple.

During the investigation it was discovered the couple had allegedly deprived the Cloverdale Community Youth League (CCYL) of at least $21,848.51 while Stephen served as president and Amber served as treasurer from 2018-20. Police allege that during the period of their duties, the Caulkinses were not depositing funds into the league’s bank accounts, in order to benefit in self-gain.

Restitution, however, covered $9,100, which Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter said was the total amount of actual missing money that could be proven.

“Usually when you’ve got a case like this, you’ve got one person involved,” the prosecutor said, adding that it was impossible to “know who’s to blame” in this case.

Stephen Caulkins filed for divorce the same day the restitution agreement was signed, court records show.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Amber and Stephen Caulkins allegedly wrote themselves checks from the CCYL bank account on multiple occasions for “reimbursement,” however, no receipts were submitted. All checks written to the couple were also signed by Amber and/or Stephen Caulkins in an amount unable to be verified by receipts totaling $4,481.08.

Court records also note that CCYL members paid Caulkins cash for entry to games, which was recorded in the CCYL account as cash but no cash was ever deposited into the bank account on the dates recorded. The amount of undeposited cash from gate receipts was listed as $600.

Multiple checks were also written for cash for events that did not occur and no cash deposit was made to return that money to the account, the court document indicates. Checks written to cash in that regard total $3,919.

The probable cause affidavit also noted that a security camera purchase was requested by CCYL members due to vandalism at the park with an agreement indicating the purchase would not exceed $500. However, a check was subsequently written to Stephen Caulkins for $750 and no receipt was ever provided, court records indicate.

Representatives of the youth league were on hand to witness the restitution agreement.