The state of Indiana indicted Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising Wednesday on 20 counts of theft.
In an interview with WBAA on Thursday, Teising said the indictments were politically motivated.
“I’m disgusted, but on top of that, it’s incredibly sad to me to think about the people that are at home watching this and thinking to themselves: well, I’m never going to get involved in politics. Because good people don’t want to get involved in this kind of nastiness,” Teising said.
According to court documents, Teising is charged with drawing her trustee’s salary while not residing in Wabash Township. The dates of the individual charges range from June 2020 to March 2021, denoting seven salary payments of $1,067.31, seven payments of $1,020.84, and six payments of $1,021.59.
Teising acknowledged traveling outside of the township and state in her RV -- sometimes for months at a time -- but maintained she kept a residence within the township.
A court summons was issued for Teising for May 28.
Teising began her term as trustee in 2019. Wabash Township is the largest of Tippecanoe County’s thirteen townships, and includes most of the city of West Lafayette.
*This story has been updated.