Former county auditor's hearing moved

A Monroe County Circuit Court hearing for a former county auditor was rescheduled for May in Owen County.

Four former county employees face felony charges for stealing from the county — a county auditor, director of human resources, Benton Township trustee and Benton Township assistant clerk.

Amy Gerstman, former Monroe County auditor, faces six counts of theft and one count of official misconduct for spending more than $11,000 of county money for personal purchases.

From 2010 to 2012, Gerstman allegedly used a county-issued credit card to pay for women’s clothing, airfare to Key West, Fla., children’s school tuition and IU Alumni membership dues, all of which were not approved by the county.

“I also want to formally apologize to the taxpayers of Monroe County for the confusion surrounding the $2,592.75 claim and for allowing personal expenditures on the county credit cards,” Gerstman said, referring to travel expenses to New York and training at Cornell University she charged to the county, according to court documents. She reimbursed the county in 2011.

The Monroe Circuit Court disqualified last year to judge Gerstman’s case.
A judge can disqualify in any proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned, according to Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct.

The case has been transferred to the Owen County Circuit Court with a plea hearing scheduled for May 28, during which Gerstman may plead guilty.

Rhonda Foster, former Monroe County director of human resources, faces three counts of theft and one count of official misconduct, according to court documents.

Foster allegedly used county-issued credit cards to pay for personal property taxes and make purchases at Macy’s and Lowe’s Home Improvement in 2010.

Foster waived her initial hearing last year, an option defendants reserve when they do not wish to contest the court’s charges. Her final pretrial conference was scheduled earlier this month for July.

Heather Cohee, former Benton Township trustee, along with her daughter Brittany Cohee, former Benton Township assistant clerk, face charges of theft.

Heather waived her initial hearing last year. But because of prior charges, her case has been transferred to drug court for regular sessions throughout a two-year period, which began late 2013.

Brittany faces five counts of theft for cashing at least 12 township checks to herself in 2011.

The investigation revealed that as much as $2,600 might have been spent by Brittany. That number was pending further investigation as of March 2013.

Brittany’s pretrial conference is slated for May 8.

Dennis Barbosa