A special audit by the State Board of Accounts found that Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter misused jail commissary funds, leading to his repayment of $16,774.71. The audit revealed that from 2021 to 2023, Kleinhelter used nearly $9,000 for his wife’s travel to law enforcement conferences and over $7,900 for employee gifts like Visa gift cards and Blackstone grills, all without proper approval. In response, the county council formed a committee to review future expenditures, highlighting a need for better internal controls. The State Board of Accounts stated that the travel expenses and gift purchases required approval from the Dubois County Council before using the funds. They classified these expenditures as misappropriation, making them the personal responsibility of the official under Indiana law.
A link to the audit report can be found here
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