Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Judge denies early release for former OFU treasurer
by Kristy Foster Seachrist
SALEM, Ohio — The former treasurer of the Ohio Farmer’s Union and the wife of Putnam County Sheriff Jim Beutler will not be getting out of prison early.
According to the Putnam County Clerk of Courts website, a judge denied early release Dec. 30 for Kathy Beutler, of Columbus Grove, Ohio. Beutler had filed a request for early release Dec. 2. She remains in the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.
Pleading guilty
Beutler pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated theft, a third degree felony and was sentenced in early June.
The theft occurred between April 2005 and May 2009; she reportedly embezzled between $100,000 and $500,000.
Court records show Beutler has paid restitution to the Ohio Farmers Union in the amount of $51,619.53 so far in three separate payments since June.
Investigation
The investigation began when the OFU started noticing funds missing from the payroll account.
Beutler is required to pay $80,000 in restitution and insurance will reportedly pay the rest. She reportedly used the funds to pay on a number of credit card accounts.
Lawsuit filed
The Farmers Union has filed a lawsuit against Beutler, her husband Putnam County Sheriff Jim Beutler, former executive director Roger D. Crossgrove and the accounting firm, Lentol, Violet, Kienitz and Company. The case was filed Oct. 7 in Putnam County Common Pleas Court and is asking for over $1.2 million in damages.
