Lafayette area ex-trustee not cooperating with attorney; faces more than $42k in restitution
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Former Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles is not cooperating with her legal counsel, prompting her attorney to inform the court Friday — just 45 minutes before Coles' restitution hearing — that she wanted to quit.
"... The attorney-client relationship has deteriorated to the point that counsel can no longer effectively represent the client," Alexandra Dowers wrote in a motion to be removed from the case, indicating she informed Coles on Thursday of her decision.
But as the hearing started, Dowers decided to continue to defend Coles, withdrawing her motion to resign.
More: Lafayette area ex-trustee contests $24K of possible restitution; hearing Friday morning
Dowers' motion indicated that Coles is not complying with the law firm's guidelines for representing her, including fees.
"Defendant fails to substantially fulfill an obligation to the attorney regarding the attorney's services and has been given reasonable warning that the attorney will withdraw unless the obligation is fulfilled," according to the motion filed at 8:45 a.m. Friday.
Restitution of more than $42,000 set during hearing
Coles, who was elected in 2018 and took office in January 2019, mishandled more than $138,000 of taxpayer money, according to an Indiana State Board of Accounts report filed last month. For her criminal proceedings, prosecutors were looking to recover $42,811.97 in restitution.
Coles indicated to prosecutors she intended to contest repaying $23,612.50 for her purchase of motivational and/or personal development websites and training, according to a report filed by prosecutors on Wednesday. She also planned to contest $532.24 for purchases at Sell-It-Here.
After a brief sidebar meeting before Friday's hearing, Coles relented on the $23,612.50, agreeing to pay it. However, she resisted paying the full restitution on the purchases from Sell-It-Here. She agreed to repay $100.
That brings Coles' restitution to $42,379.73. The final amount will be formalized on Jan. 22 when Tippecanoe Superior 1 Judge Randy Williams sentences Coles for tax exempt fraud, conflict of interest and two counts of official misconduct. When she is sentenced, 38 other grand jury indictments will be dismissed, according to a plea agreement.
Williams, however, has not formally accepted the plea agreement, indicating on Nov. 9 that he would do that on Jan. 22.
Former township employees analysis of restitution amounts
"I'm happy about the restitution," said Trisha Fogleman, a former township employee and whistleblower.
She disagreed with Coles being allowed to repay only $100 of the $532.24 the trustee allegedly spent on personal items at Sell-It-Here.
"I saw that $542 being spent inappropriately in my face," Fogleman said.
Teresa Meyers and Kelli Stump, both former township employees and whistleblowers, also attended Friday's hearing.
"I'm satisfied with her restitution," Meyers said Friday morning.
In November, Meyers and Stump each penned a letter to the court asking Williams to reject the plea.
Stump took a broader view of Coles' indictment on 42 charges, her guilty plea, her restitution and whatever sentence she might receive on Jan. 22.
"This case is nothing to do about restitution," Stump said.
"She is living proof — no matter which side — you should research every candidate," Stump said. "If (voters) had looked up Taletha Coles, they would have seen her financial irresponsibility."
Coles has many adjudicated collection cases.
"Most people just vote a straight ticket," Fogleman said about how Coles got elected and reiterating Stump's call to research candidates.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette ex-trustee not cooperating with attorney; faces $42K in restitution
