Former Evansville parks director pleads guilty, sentencing date set
EVANSVILLE — Former Evansville Parks Director Brian Holtz pleaded guilty to amended charges Wednesday morning, two years after he resigned from his city role amid a criminal investigation.
Holtz pleaded guilty to two count of forgery, one count of official misconduct and five counts of counterfeiting.
He was originally set to go to trial Aug. 14. The trial dates have been canceled and a sentencing hearing is now set for 1 p.m. on Sept. 26 in Vanderburgh County.
Holtz resigned from his position in July 2021. Since that time, deputy mayor Steve Schaefer has held the position on an interim basis. No full-time hire has been made or is likely to be made prior to a new city administration coming in January.
The original charges against Holtz were 12 felony counts. He turned himself in to the Evansville Police Department in April 2022 after a warrant was issued for his arrest on 12 felony counts. He first appeared in court April 26, 2022.
Amended charges removed three counts of counterfeiting and one count of fraud on a financial institution.
An audit completed by the Indiana State Board of Accounts stated Holtz should reimburse the city $491,706 in connection to alleged unauthorized purchases and diverted funds. The audit also states Holtz should pay the state $83,835 for the cost of the special investigation.
His official response to their findings was that he had done his job the way the city wanted him to.
Response from Mayor Lloyd Winnecke
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke issued a statement Wednesday evening through city spokesman Noah Stubbs.
"We acknowledge Brian's guilty pleas with a sense of closure," Winnecke stated. "It is encouraging to see him taking responsibility for his actions. "
Winnecke said the case serves as a reminder to all public officials the importance of following rules and procedure.
"We must conduct ourselves with the highest standards of integrity and ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds," he said.
Winnecke also said the actions of one person should not overshadow the work of the city's parks department staff, or other city employees.
"Together, we will continue to uphold the values that define our community," he said. "We will continue to serve the citizens of Evansville with steadfast dedication and work toward a brighter future."
This is breaking news and this article may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Former Evansville parks director pleads guilty, sentencing date set
