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Former Director Of Jackson Co. Soil & Water Pleads Guilty To Stealing Funds

Last updated on Thursday, September 26, 2013

(BROWNSTOWN) - A former director of the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District has received a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to stealing $13,607.22 from the district from 2009 to 2011.

Rebecca S. Lauster, 51, of Brownstown was arrested in March on six counts of theft related to an investigation conducted by Detective Rachel Eickholtz with the Indiana State Police.

That investigation stemmed from an Indiana State Board of Accounts audit.

The Indiana State Police has been investigating Lauster since November.

According to police, Lauser misappropriated funds from her office. She turned herself in after a warrant was issued for her arrest.

According to an audit by the state board of accounts, Lauster allegedly made numerous unauthorized personal expenditures and excess expenses on the business account credit card of more than $13,000.

In addition, the investigation revealed Lauster opened a second unauthorized business credit card account by forging the board president's signature leaving that account with an outstanding balance of $7,900 resulting in the theft charges.

Following the outcome of the investigation, Lauster is no longer employed at the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District.

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