Ex-excise officer sentenced for theft

The Journal Gazette, journalgazette.net
BYLINE: Rebecca Green, courts, 260-461-8283,

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Whitley County, IN

A former Indiana state excise police officer was sentenced to two years in prison after he admitted to stealing guns and money from the evidence room.

Aaron Bishop, 34, of Fort Wayne pleaded guilty last month to theft and official misconduct in Whitley County Superior Court.

In August, someone broke into the excise police post in Columbia City, leaving a note behind to taunt police and making it appear that the theft was in retaliation for police seizing someone’s property, according to police.

But police were able to link Bishop to the crime, finding evidence at his Fort Wayne home. After a three-month investigation, he was arrested and subsequently fired from the excise police. Police believe Bishop had an accomplice but that man has never been named.

On Monday, Whitley Superior Court Judge Doug Fahl sentenced Bishop to three years in prison on each count, ordering the sentences to be served at the same time. He then suspended one year of each sentence, to be served on probation, court officials said.

Bishop must also pay $13,562 in restitution, perform 50 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine.

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International Association for Property and Evidence
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