RSS | Print | Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text | Bookmark and Share

Local News

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Putnam sheriff's wife admits embezzling more than $100K
Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
OTTAWA -- The wife of the Putnam County sheriff has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 from the Ohio Farmers Union.

Kathy Beutler pleaded guilty to aggravated theft, a third-degree felony, during an appearance Wednesday in Putnam County Common Pleas Court, Ottawa, according to information from WFIN radio and the Putnam County Sentinel.

She entered the plea in response to a bill of information submitted by special Prosecutor Ken Egbert Jr. of Tiffin. A bill of information is an agreement between attorneys that the accused will plead guilty. It bypasses submitting a case to a grand jury for consideration.

Beutler, of Columbus Grove, admitted stealing more than $100,000 from her former employer, the Ohio Farmers Union, 1011 N. Defiance St., Ottawa. She was the organization's treasurer.

She had been on paid leave since an investigation was started in the summer by the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

She was represented by attorney Kurt Sahloff of Ottawa.

Visiting Judge Keith Muehlfeld, of Henry County Common Pleas Court, ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1.

Beutler was released on her own recognizance. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine and restitution.

Beutler is the wife of Putnam County Sheriff Jim Beutler, a 30-year veteran of the sheriff's office.
Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail rebeccaconklin@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.

9 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Scott Mastrocinque wrote:
Re: Toast
“ I fully understand the way the Ohio Revised Code works. However, my beef is that there is MUCH more to the story here than is being plead guilty to by Kathy Beutler. This appears to be a sweetheart deal, trying very hard to be quietly and quickly rushed through the court. Furthermore, it is an insult to the common man, who upon committing any of a number of lesser crimes, is immediately taken into custody, while this woman who plead guilty, is allowed the luxury of freedom. She should be in jail right now. Lastly, what amazes me is the cavalier disregard for the concept put forth by many here, that the husband would seem oblivious to even noticing his wife's new-found riches! I noticed if my spouse came home with extra expensive groceries, let alone if it was the spoils of a $100k+ theft. I believe the Sheriff has some explaining to do and the matter needs further investigation. Again, this is not a few bucks from petty cash, it's over $100,000 ! ”
Monday, September 28, 2009 2:44:21 AM
Toast wrote:
Response to criticisms
“ bt: Five years as a maximum for a theft of this magnitude is set by the Ohio General Assembly, and has nothing to do with the "crooked sheriff."

Scott: Kathy Beutler pled to the crime as charged. No one can stop a defendant from pleading "guilty" to the crime with what they are charged. Simply because she pled guilty does not mean any deal was in place. We'll have to wait to see if a "plea bargain" even exited. Also, a trial on this issue could cost Putnam county tens of thousands of dollars. Her guilty plea saved the county a ton of money. This should NOT be the main reason for a plea deal, but it IS a factor that should not be ignored. ”
Sunday, September 27, 2009 7:36:38 PM
Scott Mastrocinque wrote:
She made a mistake?!?!
“ Are you kidding me? This woman did not steal a few hundred bucks from petty cash. She stole in excess of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! Obviously, over a period of time, in small increments, OVER AND OVER again. You actually have the hutzpah to call this "a poor choice"? I'm curious, if it had been two hundred thousand dollars, would that have just been perhaps a "bad hair day"? I don't see anybody acting holier-than-thou here except you! You actually are chastising everybody else because they call a spade, a spade, and don't try to whitewash and candy coat it like you try to. ”
Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:06:10 PM
lisa94582 wrote:
Kathy Beutler
“ Kathy apparently committed a felony. Her husband is the county sheriff. There. She made a mistake. A HUGE mistake, and a mistake all the same. Who among you has not made a poor choice? The comments on this story are truly disturbing (not to mention many of them alarmingly poorly written). What's REALLY wrong here is this collective exuberance to attack. This holier-than-thou attitude is nauseating. ”
Saturday, September 26, 2009 5:12:10 PM
J wrote:
What?
“ He is a Sheriff, and he didn't realize that his wife had this much unexplained income. Either he knew and is as guilty as his wife, or he is incompetent, either way he should not be reelected. ”
Thursday, September 24, 2009 4:47:51 PM
craig wrote:
Putnam county sheriff
“ it just goes to show another reason why this country is falling apart.to steal from any one is wrong. all this goes to show you is that "some people" are not prone to the same type of punishments that us "average joes" are. plus a man who is suppose to up hold the law pretends he was unaware of this? come on! just another crooked cop working with his friends in a crooked system! its all about your connections in Putnam county! ”
Thursday, September 24, 2009 11:42:47 AM
TG wrote:
Putnam sheriff's wife admits embezzling more than $100K
“ How do you have a vacation home, boat, three wheelers, ect.... on a Sheriff's income and a wife working at Ohio Farmers Union, and the husband states I didn't know she took all this money. Whatever. You sure have a lot of people fooled. I hope they feel foolish for be leaving in you. Sheriff Jim Beutler do the right thing and step down, your a hypocrite. ”
Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:50:40 AM
Scott Mastrocinque wrote:
Another plea deal
“ Again, another plea deal on an open and shut case. This woman STOLE 100,000+ dollars. Period. They have her nailed on this, but wait, another plea deal. Another travesty of justice. Furthermore, what about her husband in all of this? He's a Sheriff! Do you seriously mean to tell me he never noticed the extra $100,000 worth of cash or merchandise that magically appeared in his life? What a joke! To add insult to injury, this woman is out on her own recognizance pending sentencing! Are you kidding me? Why? Why is she afforded this special white glove treatment? She's a CRIMINAL! A THIEF! What a joke our legal system has become. ”
Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:35:58 AM
bt wrote:
stealing
“ She steals $180,000.00 and is going to get a maximum of 5 years?What is wrong with this picture?Makes you wonder how crooked the sheriff is ”
Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:05:17 AM
   MULTIMEDIA
Flood Solutions Audio

MITIGATION: Possible flood projects for Findlay were presented in a public meeting Monday at Winebrenner Seminary.

Audio


Stories


Conceptual Plans


Technical Maps


Flood Portal

RESOURCES: At the flood portal you can find news stories, photos, multimedia, community features and updated river levels.

   VIRTUAL VILLAGE
Orange & Black Attack

OILERS: Follow University of Findlay sports with Brian Lester.


Far Flung Guest Book

DROP A LINE: Whether you're always here or just passing through, visit and sign our online Guest Book on the Far Flung blog.


Virtual Village
   PHOTO GALLERY
Randy's Seen

IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.


You can purchase photographs from The Courier through our easy-to-use online system. Get prints, mousepads, T-shirts and more!

   LOCAL NEWS
  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
adam wrote in article "Village patrols may be restored in future":
concerned
“ i totally agree with you! when you call them nothing happens (unless you have a little bit of pot). I called police on a passed... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 3:21:12 PM
adam wrote in article "Corn dust bothers elevator neighbor":
grain
“ hey if you dont like the problems caused by this you should move. Otherwise shut up and count your blessings that YOU have a pla... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 3:15:05 PM
adam wrote in article "Two charged after robbery":
pizza
“ you would be amazing sometimes the ammount they carry. Sometimes its a whole nights woth of working that they gota payback. ” Read More...
11/20/2009 3:10:23 PM
TG wrote in article "Village patrols may be restored in future":
Capt. Treece
“ Why don't you put your money where your mouth is Capt. Treece. Bring out those numbers. The correct ones. I bet you make almo... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 2:52:23 PM
Chilli wrote in article "Extra enforcement slated for Saturday due to big game":
Extra Enforcement
“ I always wonder why they tell the public what roads are choosen for patrols. Can't the drunk driver just go another route? ” Read More...
11/20/2009 2:48:36 PM
james wrote in article "Village patrols may be restored in future":
buddies
“ Thats not the way we see it ,,if you retire and can and do ,,,move on,, We the people of this county do not approve of this pra... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 2:01:31 PM
Get Real wrote in article "Two charged after robbery":
Why is this thug on the street anyway?
“ I believe if you review some history, this creep robbed a pizza driver in August of 2007 two years ago and was involved in a st... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 1:35:27 PM
Scott wrote in article "Two charged after robbery":
Robbery
“ While I agree with most of Cathy Schulte's comments, I don't agree with, "Good of her to fight back." How stupid would it be to... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 1:28:20 PM
JP wrote in article "Corn dust bothers elevator neighbor":
Grains, trains and automobiles
“ I live in North Baltimore, a pitching wedge from the grain elevator and a chip shot from the CSX main line.

It IS dustier he... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 11:44:07 AM
Cathy Schulte wrote in article "Two charged after robbery":
Robbery
“ How dumb ! How much could money a pizza delivery person have? To risk prision for any amount is crazy,but to rob a person of cha... ” Read More...
11/20/2009 11:34:18 AM
  U.S. Headlines
  World News
  Ohio News
News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.