In a recent radio interview with WIBC, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter questioned the decision to not pursue an extensive case against Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter for the misuse of funds from the jail commissary account.

During the conversation Carter mentioned an unusual meeting between special prosecutor Holly Huddleston, ISP detectives who had worked on the case and, Sheriff Kleinhelter and his attorney. Carter says that this meeting was scheduled to discuss whether charges would be filed against Sheriff Kleinhelter.

Carter also alluded to the possibility that new ISP superintendent Anthony Scott, who was appointed by Governor Mike Braun, played a role in the decision not to continue the investigation and pursue charges, and that those decisions were influenced by Kleinhelter’s relationship with Governor Braun.

According to a Probable Cause Affidavit obtained and published by the Dubois County Free Press, the investigation into Kleinhelter revolved around misuses of jail commissary funds to pay for the Sheriff’s wife to take a trip to Dubai, and to purchase gift cards and Blackstone grills that the Sheriff gave to others as gifts.

When Kleinhelter was audited by the State Board of Accounts he was notified that he was personally responsible to payback the unjustified expenses, and in response Kleinhelter requested that money be transferred from the sheriff’s department donation fund to cover the reimbursement.

Would you consider contributing to the work of Terre Haute Vice News?