DUBOIS COUNTY — Dubois County Sheriff Thomas Kleinhelter is facing a felony charge and multiple misdemeanors after Marion County prosecutors alleged he lied to investigators during a high-profile probe into the misuse of public funds.
The charges, filed Thursday by Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, include one count of official misconduct, a Level 6 felony, and three counts of false informing, all Class B misdemeanors.
The case centers on a December 19, 2024, interview with Indiana State Police (ISP). According to the probable cause affidavit, Kleinhelter provided false statements regarding his handling of the jail commissary fund—a pool of money meant for specific inmate and department needs.
The Allegations: Dubai Trips and Ghost Deputies
The criminal charges stem from a 2024 State Board of Accounts audit that flagged $78,000 in questionable spending from the Dubois County Sheriff’s Office. The audit detailed expenses for travel, meals, and luxury items, many involving Kleinhelter’s wife, who was not a department employee.
According to court records, Kleinhelter allegedly made several false claims to investigators to justify the spending:
- The Dubai Trip: He reportedly claimed a refund for a canceled trip to Dubai was issued as an airline credit. Investigators say the money was actually returned to his personal credit card.
- Special Deputy Appointment: He allegedly denied appointing his wife as a “special deputy,” a claim contradicted by internal documents.
- Golf Outings: He claimed golf trips paid for with public funds were legitimate law enforcement conference activities, which investigators say was not the case.
“Public servants, particularly those in law enforcement, have an obligation to maintain the highest standards of integrity,” Prosecutor Mears said in a statement. “These allegations reflect a fundamental violation of public trust.”
“I Am Not a Thief”
During the recorded interviews, Kleinhelter grew combative, insisting that any financial discrepancies were administrative errors rather than crimes. “I paid the money back when I was told to pay it back,” Kleinhelter told investigators, according to the affidavit. “There was no intent to steal any money.”
At one point, he reportedly told detectives, “Now you’re sitting here telling me that I’m a thief and that’s pissing me off.”
The path to these charges has been fraught with internal conflict within the Indiana State Police. In August 2025, it was revealed that Lt. Jeff Hearon, the veteran investigator who led the probe, was disciplined after an Orange County special prosecutor initially declined to file charges.
Hearon, a 38-year veteran, was suspended for two days and reassigned after he sent an email to the special prosecutor “pushing back” on the decision not to charge Kleinhelter. ISP Superintendent Anthony Scott ruled Hearon’s conduct was “unbecoming” and “oppressive.” Despite the discipline, Hearon remained the lead affiant on the new charges filed in Marion County this week.
In addition to the criminal case, Kleinhelter faces a decertification hearing before the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board later this month. If his certification is revoked, he will lose his policing authority, effectively ending his ability to serve as sheriff regardless of the criminal trial’s outcome.
Under Indiana law, a Level 6 felony carries a sentencing range of six months to two and a half years in prison.
