Orange County Prosecuting Attorney declines to file charges against Dubois County Sheriff

The Dubois County Sheriff’s Office published a press release announcing Orange County Prosecuting Attorney Holly Hudelson had declined to file charges against Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter.

The investigation by the Indiana State Police was instigated by the State Board of Accounts after it found that the sheriff had misappropriated funds from the Jail Commissary Fund to pay for trips for his wife to training conventions and to purchase gifts for the sheriff’s office staff.

Kleinhelter subsequently repaid the $16,774.71 identified in the audit as misappropriations on June 27, 2024.

Hudelson was appointed as the special prosecutor in the case at the request of Dubois County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Schroeder.

The state’s investigation was forwarded to a special investigator with the Indiana State Police, who recently completed their investigation and turned it over to Hudelson’s office.

The sheriff also indicated in the press release that he had initiated an internal audit after the State Board of Accounts had completed its audit.

Though not stated in the press release from the sheriff’s office, the commissary ledgers from July to December 2024 record Kleinhelter making personal reimbursements to the commissary fund for $7,373.65 on August 6, 2024, and $1,418.80 on August 12, 2024.

The sheriff’s office also stated in its press release that though he purchased the tickets to Dubai while planning the trip, he never went on the trip.

In his news release regarding the investigation, Kleinhelter affirmed that he never intended to defraud the county and maintained that he did not abuse his position as the elected Dubois County Sheriff.

This story may be updated.