NEW CASTLE, Ind. (AP) – Two police officers and the director of the community corrections program in an eastern Indiana county have been acquitted by a jury of ghost employment charges.
A Henry County jury returned the verdicts Thursday.
The Star Press reports that prosecutors alleged New Castle police officers Matthew Patterson and James Heffernan were paid for working at second jobs with Henry County Community Corrections when they were actually doing things as golfing or working out at a gym.
Community Corrections director Douglas Sheets was accused of altering time sheets.
Defense attorneys argued there was no evidence justifying convictions.
Patterson and Heffernan have been on unpaid leave since charges were filed last November, and their attorney said they would seek reinstatement.
Originally reported by WISH-TV News. Read the original article here.