BROWNSTOWN — A long-term investigation into missing funds at the Jackson County Water Company has culminated in felony charges against a Seymour woman accused of stealing more than $160,000 from the utility.
Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Lynsey N. Fleetwood filed three Level 5 felony counts of theft against Stephanie K. Austin, 41, on Friday, following a detailed probe by the Brownstown Police Department.
Austin, who served as an accounts receivable clerk, was responsible for receiving cash payments at the front desk.
The investigation was triggered after an internal audit identified significant discrepancies in the utility’s financial records. According to the probable cause affidavit, the plant manager confronted Austin on March 1 regarding missed transactions from February. When she claimed no knowledge of the missing funds, she was placed on unpaid administrative leave.
Brownstown Police Detective Jac Sanders conducted a deep dive into the utility’s books, reviewing financial documentation and audit findings, employee statements, and security footage from the utility office.
The investigation alleges a consistent pattern of theft between February 6, 2024, and February 25, 2026. Court documents reveal that in the first two months of 2026 alone, over $17,800 was missing from cash deposits.
The $160,142.78 in alleged stolen funds has been divided into three separate felony counts based on the timeline of the investigation:
| Charge | Time Period | Alleged Amount Stolen |
| Count I | Feb. 6, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025 | $53,685.33 |
| Count II | Feb. 1, 2025 – Sept. 2, 2025 | $50,933.54 |
| Count III | Sept. 3, 2025 – Feb. 25, 2026 | $55,523.91 |
During an interview with police on March 13, Austin maintained her innocence, suggesting that the missing funds had been an issue for nine years and noting that others had access to the money.
Utility officials have moved to reassure the public that individual consumer accounts were not harmed by the missing funds. All payments made by customers were properly posted and credited to their accounts; the theft exclusively involved the utility’s internal cash deposit system.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
