Stephanie K. Austin, 41, of Seymour was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown last Friday after prosecutors said she stole roughly $160,142.78 in cash deposits from the Jackson County Water Co. The allegations surfaced after an internal audit flagged missing money and triggered a deeper look at the books. Austin has told investigators she did nothing wrong and maintains she is innocent.
Prosecutor outlines three theft counts
Jackson County Prosecutor Lynsey N. Fleetwood has filed three Level 5 felony theft charges in Jackson Circuit Court, each tied to a specific time window. According to court documents reported by The Republic, the counts allege:
- $53,685.33 taken between Feb. 6, 2024 and Jan. 31, 2025
- $50,933.54 taken between Feb. 1, 2025 and Sept. 2, 2025
- $55,523.91 taken between Sept. 3, 2025 and Feb. 25, 2026
Those figures total $160,142.78, the amount prosecutors say is missing from cash deposits.
Investigation triggered by audit
Prosecutors say an internal audit first spotted discrepancies in cash-deposit records, which led investigators to comb through financial documents, audit reports, employee statements and security video. Court filings allege that investigators found $9,156.09 missing from January deposits and $8,674 missing from February deposits, and that a county employee alerted Austin to missed transactions on March 1. Those findings formed a key part of the decision to file charges, according to the documents.
Defendant’s response and utility assurances
Austin told investigators, “I am innocent,” according to court filings and a prosecutor’s news release. County officials and the water utility have said customer accounts were not harmed and that payments continued to be properly credited, as reported by The Republic.
Legal stakes
The theft counts are charged as Level 5 felonies. Under Indiana sentencing guidelines, a Level 5 felony can carry a prison term of one to six years and fines up to $10,000, with any final sentence depending on the judge’s findings and any aggravating or mitigating factors, according to INCourts. The charges remain allegations, and Austin is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court.
Detective Jac Sanders interviewed Austin in Brownstown, and the case is now pending in Jackson Circuit Court. Early reports did not list an arraignment date. Prosecutors say the investigation is built on accounting records and video evidence, and that future developments will come through formal court filings as the case moves ahead.
