Staff Report
ROCKVILLE, Ind. — After a nearly three-month investigation by Indiana State Police detectives and the Office of Indiana Inspector General, a former Rockville, Ind., town manager has been arrested on two felony counts, theft as a Class D felony; and official misconduct, also a Class D felony.
Neil R. Goheen, age 53, of New Carlisle, Ind., was arrested around noon Friday at his home in LaPorte County. Goheen was arrested by Indiana State Police detectives from the Lowell Post. They found him to also be wanted by Elkhart County authorities on unrelated theft charges.
Goheen is in the Elkhart County Jail and will be taken to the Parke County Jail at a later date. Goheen’s bond on the Parke County charges is set at $10,000.
During the investigation, ISP Detective Tony Guinn and Special Agent Darrell Boehmer of the Office of Indiana Inspector General found that Neil Goheen, while he was the Rockville town manager, allegedly created bank accounts and a post office box doing business as the Buckman Co. Goheen then allegedly submitted false claims to the State of Indiana for payments totaling nearly $60,000.
In July 2009, police say Goheen allegedly submitted an invoice to the town of Rockville for $418.26 for mechanic work performed on his personal vehicle, in October 2009 he allegedly submitted an expenditure for a computer totaling $1,550, and then in November 2009, allegedly submitted an invoice for $1,515.87 for fuel replacement for his personal vehicle, all of which were unauthorized by the Rockville Town Board.
In October 2009, Goheen allegedly billed the town of Rockville for $43,200 through his Buckman Co. for the purpose of “engineering services” and “placement of equipment” concerning the improving and enhancement of the town’s waste water treatment plant capabilities. The Buckman Co. received the money in November 2009. The work was never performed.
In late November, the town of Rockville received a voucher from the Buckman Co. and allegedly signed by Goheen for $14,559. The town of Rockville issued a check to the Buckman Co. for the $14,559 in early December 2009.
Goheen was employed by the town of Rockville in the capacity as town manager from Oct. 27, 2008, to Dec. 11, 2009, according to a state police press release.
