DARE officer sentenced for embezzling thousands

BROWN COUNTY, WI (KTRK) --
A former Brown County deputy who stole thousands from the DARE program has been sentenced to two years in prison and seven years on extended supervision.

June 18, 2016

BROWN COUNTY, WI (KTRK) -- A former Brown County deputy who stole thousands from the DARE program has been sentenced to two years in prison and seven years on extended supervision.

Kevin Vanden Heuvel collected money for parking at Green Bay Packers home games as part of a fundraiser for the DARE program. He was trusted to deposit the money into the DARE fund, but deposited it into personal accounts.

DARE is a drug and alcohol prevention education program in which local police officers teach children about the dangers of drug use.

WBAY reports that Sheriff Gossage estimates nearly $200,000 was stolen during the scheme, which is believed to have gone on for years.

Heuvel was also ordered to pay $46,000 in restitution and offered to pay $30,000 of that Friday.
Heuvel told the judge he has accepted responsibility for being the accused mastermind behind a scheme to pocket thousands.