Former marshal faces theft charges
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WESTPORT — A former Westport town marshal faces charges for allegedly stealing beer from a convenience store on a Sunday while in uniform, on duty and driving a marked police car and for stealing money from his department.
On Thursday, Steven Todd Hampton, 42, turned himself in to Indiana Excise Police and Indiana State Police officers waiting for him at the Decatur County Jail.
Before resigning March 21, Hampton, had been the head of the Westport Police Department.
On Feb. 5, Super Bowl Sunday, the then-marshal allegedly tried to purchase a 12-pack of beer from the Westport Mini Mart, 102 N. Indiana 3.
When the clerk refused to sell the alcohol on grounds that it violated Indiana law, which prohibits such sales on Sundays, Hampton allegedly walked out of the store with the 12-pack without paying, according to Cpl. Travis Thickston, a spokesman for the Indiana Excise Police.
Thompson returned the next day and paid for the beer, Thickston said.
On March 7, a complaint about the incident was filed with the excise police, which investigate and enforce laws pertaining to the sale of alcohol and tobacco.
When questioned about the alleged theft by Excise Officer Mike Cruze, Hampton reportedly said he took the beer as part of an investigation into illegal Sunday sales of alcohol.
When asked to present the beer he took for his investigation, he produced a 12-pack of beer that investigators later determined was purchased sometime after Feb. 5 and by someone other than Hampton.
Indiana State Police investigated allegations that Hampton improperly used money Westport Police Department collected in gun permit fees.
Decatur County Jail reported that Hampton was released Thursday on $755 bond and faces two counts of official misconduct and one count of theft, all Class D felonies.
Decatur County Sheriff Gregory D. Allen assisted with the investigation.
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