Mike Wolanin | The Republic Former Columbus Township trustee Ben Jackson exits the back of a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s cruiser for his initial hearing at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Jackson is accused of stealing and misusing public funds to cover the more than $1.12 million in expenses he racked up on Columbus Township’s credit cards. Jackson has been charged with 17 felonies ranging from theft to official misconduct as well as a misdemeanor charge for theft.
Former Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson bonded out of the Bartholomew County Jail Thursday.
Jail officials confirmed Thursday morning Jackson was released in lieu of $50,000 bond, after he was charged with 17 felonies and one misdemeanor in relation to his alleged theft and misuse of public funds to cover more than $1.12 million in personal expenses he made with the township’s credit card.
Jackson appeared appeared in court Wednesday afternoon wearing a red jail jumpsuit and was brought into the Bartholomew County Courthouse wearing handcuffs and leg shackles for his initial hearing, where he entered a plea of not guilty.
A jury trial is set for Dec. 9 at 8:30 a.m. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Jackson, who resigned in November amid an investigation into his use of the township’s credit card, is facing nine felony counts of official misconduct, eight felony counts of theft and one misdemeanor count of theft, according to court records. The official misconduct charges are all Level 6 felonies, while the theft charges include six Level 5 felonies, two Level 6 felonies and one misdemeanor.
Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James D. Worton has recused himself, and Decatur Superior Court Judge Matthew Bailey was appointed special judge in the case.
Jackson was booked into Bartholomew County Jail on Tuesday night and is being represented by attorney Greg Long.
The charges come roughly two months after state auditors released a special investigation report, alleging that Jackson racked up $1.12 million in personal expenses on a township credit card over an eight-year period.
The personal expenses allegedly included lavish trips across the United States and overseas, college tuition for his children, retail purchases, home improvement projects, among several other things.
Jackson allegedly used the township credit card to pay for $657,831 in personal trips across 10 countries, $150,078 in retail purchases, $90,915 in tuition and school expenses for his children, $39,913 for personal utilities, among other things from 2016 to 2024, according to the SBOA report.
As part of the criminal investigation, the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office coordinated interviews, obtained search warrants and reviewed documents, officials said previously.
A probable cause affidavit filed in Bartholomew Circuit Court on Tuesday is largely based off the SBOA’s report.
However, the affidavit further alleges that Jackson was interviewed by Indiana State Police during the investigation and “admitted to knowingly and intentionally depriving the township of funds for personal expenses.”
“Benjamin Jackson advised that when the credit card bill came to the office, he would write the check for it to keep the office staff from knowing what was on the credit card,” according to the probable cause affidavit. “Benjamin Jackson advised that he entered the personal expenses with inaccurate budget codes to cover up what he was spending for personal expenses. …Benjamin Jackson said during the interview that he knew what he was doing was illegal and did not have any idea how much money he had taken.”
