Two township trustees became muses for revamping Indiana law
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The year began with 21 felony convictions Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising, and it ended with an Indiana Court of Appeals decision erasing those convictions 12 months to the day of her trial ending.
"I am vindicated," Teising said in a Dec. 15 statement about the Appeals Court ruling.
Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington plans to ask the Attorney General's office to pursue a review at the Indiana Supreme Court.
Late in 2022, the 15 months of public turmoil in Fairfield Township, which emcompass most of Lafayette, ended.
Trustee Taletha Coles resigned Oct. 19 hours before a judge was scheduled to hear evidence about forcing her from office by using a new law adopted in 2022.
Two weeks after her resignation, a grand jury issued 42 indictments against Taletha Coles. She is awaiting trial in 2023 in Tippecanoe Superior 1 on a variety of charges, including theft, official misconduct, fraud and corrupt business influence.
Starting in January 2022, the General Assembly used Teising and Coles as their muses to expand Indiana's laws to remove rogue trustees, then Tippecanoe County elected officials set about using the new process to ouster Coles before the end of 2022.
Coles, however, resigned Oct. 19, just before the final removal process as per the new law, was scheduled.
Teising's conviction and appeal
Teising remained free on bail all year while she appealed her conviction and sentence.
Her appeal formally was submitted to the Indiana Appeals Court on Sept. 7, and the court published its opinion on Dec. 15 — one year to the date of her last day of trial.
Teising's bench trial on 21 felony charges of theft began Dec. 13, 2021, and ended Dec. 15, 2021.
Tippecanoe Superior 5 Judge Kristen McVey announced her verdict Jan. 5, which ended Teising's three years as trustee of Wabash Township.
Now that Teising's verdict is overturned, she is due her back pay for 2022, Teising's attorney, Karen Celestino-Horseman, said.
Teising claimed her life in her travel trailer parked in Anderson or in Panama City Beach, Florida, was in keeping with Gov. Eric Holcomb's order to work remotely during the pandenmic.
Unrest in Fairfield Township
Upheaval in Fairfield Township started shortly after Coles took office in January 2019. She stopped responding to township board members' requests to inspect the public records.
In February 2020, Coles announced to the board that on Dec. 31, 2019, she purchased a pickup truck and a utility trailer for use at the cemetery. Board members said she used money appropriated for a community center to buy the truck and trailer. Coles said she used rainy day funds and didn't need the board's approval or permission.
In late July 2021, township employees walked off the job, and some of them began talking with local reporters, including providing documents.
In September 2021, the Journal & Courier submitted a written request to inspect public documents — specifically the township's credit card statements and itemized receipts for the purchase made with the card.
Coles never responded, and the Journal & Courier in March sued Coles and Fairfield Township to produce the statements.
On Nov. 2, a Tippecanoe County grand jury indicted Coles on 42 charges — 21 of which are felonies.
The allegations include charges for corrupt business influence, official misconduct, theft and fraud.
Since she was indicted, Coles filed paperwork with the court indicating she moved to southern Indianapolis.
Her 2023 trial date has not been set.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: 2 Lafayette area trustees became the muses for revamping Indiana law
