By Brandi Watters, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON, Ind. — The last two men indicted in a federal investigation into $259,000 in town funds stolen from Chesterfield have filed guilty pleas in federal court.
Former Town Marshal James Kimm and an Anderson man, Willard A. Felts Jr., on Feb. 4 filed plea agreements with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis. If accepted by the court, each man would face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000.
Kimm’s guilty plea stipulates that his involvement in the criminal diversion of funds cost the town $164,974. Felts’ plea stipulates the loss attributable to him through criminal activity is $37,600.
Timothy Morrison, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said the court has yet to schedule a hearing on plea agreements entered by Felts and Kimm, or on agreements previously filed by disgraced former town Clerk/Treasurer Christopher Parrish and ex-police officer Joseph Brown.
Parrish and Brown also have pleaded guilty and likewise face possible prison terms of 10 years and fines of $250,000 if the court accepts their pleas.
A federal indictment charging the four men alleged that:
♦ Between Dec. 17, 2007, and Oct. 16, 2008, Kimm submitted and Parrish processed 27 false mileage claims totaling $47,022.
♦ Parrish conspired with Kimm and Brown to process false vehicle repair claims. In just over a year, the men submitted 21 claims totaling $105,593.
♦ Parrish wrote false invoices to Felts for work on town property that was never done.
Telephone messages seeking comment from attorneys representing Felts and Kimm were not returned on Tuesday.
Chesterfield town leaders said Tuesday they were looking forward.
“I’m glad that it’s all coming to an end,” said Town Council President Jack Taylor. “A lot of people got hurt and we’ve all got to move on.
“Hopefully a lot of people learned from this,” he said.
Like most towns and cities, Chesterfield carries performance bonds on its public officials. Taylor said the bond companies should cover some of the town’s losses once guilty pleas are affirmed by the court. “It’s not a quick process,” Taylor said.
Town Council Vice President Ron Branham said townspeople had been patient as the legal process ran its course.
“We think we’re going to be fine and come out of this thing with lessons learned,” Branham said. “Those gentlemen are going to pay a higher price than we will.
“There’s never a good outcome on those kind of deals,” he said.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com
