BROWNSTOWN — Staci Eglen, a former Jackson County Auditor accused of embezzling over $18,000 in county funds, has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors that will allow her to avoid jail time, provided she completes probation.
Eglen, who resigned from her position on May 3, has agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of theft. The plea deal follows a state police investigation that revealed she stole the funds between October and December by creating and submitting fraudulent invoices for reimbursement. The agreement, made public this week in Jackson Circuit Court, outlines that Eglen will serve a two-year suspended sentence and be placed on probation.
Under the agreement, Eglen must pay $10,922 in restitution to the Hamilton Township Trustee’s Office and $9,964 to Jackson County. Additionally, she is required to undergo drug testing and an evaluation by the Jackson County Probation Department to assess her need for treatment or counseling.
If Eglen completes her probation, her felony conviction could be reduced to a Class A misdemeanor. She may also be eligible to end probation after one year, provided she has fully paid restitution and court costs and met all probation requirements.
Judge Richard Poynter has scheduled Eglen’s guilty plea and sentencing hearing for December 18.
Eglen was initially charged with nine felonies, including three counts each of fraud, theft, and official misconduct, following a month-long investigation into her alleged misconduct. She was arrested on May 24 and released the next day after posting a $1,500 bond.
The investigation revealed that Eglen had voided checks meant for the Hamilton Township Trustee’s bank account and submitted fake invoices to the Jackson County Treasurer’s Office, listing herself as the payee. She then allegedly cashed or deposited the funds into her personal account.
One of the fraudulent transactions involved a $1,500 check that was reissued to Eglen for “copier maintenance” instead of Toshiba America Business Solutions. She also fabricated an invoice for $2,441, which resulted in her receiving $1,900 and depositing $541 into her account.
The investigation also found that Eglen deposited a $13,529 check into a joint account she held with Jonathan Eglen. The fraudulent invoices were discovered during a videoconference with the Indiana State Board of Accounts on April 25. Four days later, Eglen admitted to fabricating the invoices and receiving payment.
Court records indicate that Eglen’s financial troubles were compounded by foreclosure proceedings initiated by Flagstar Bank and a civil collection complaint filed by Mariner Finance LLC.
Eglen was appointed as auditor in 2023 to replace Roger Hurt and had worked in various capacities in the auditor’s office since 2011. The office is a constitutional position in Indiana, which limits auditors to two consecutive four-year terms.
