A special judge has approved a divorce settlement between former Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson and Amy Jackson in which he will assume full liability for any potential restitution, attorney fees and debt stemming from criminal charges filed against him.
Brown Circuit Magistrate Judge Jennifer Wilson Reagan, who served as special judge in the case, approved the agreement in an order dated Sept. 18, though it was not made part of the public record until this week.
“The settlement agreement entered into by the parties is fair, was entered into without any force, duress or coercion,” Wilson Reagan states in the order.
Ben Jackson, who resigned in November amid an investigation into his use of the township’s credit card, is facing 17 felonies and a misdemeanor charge. Prosecutors have accused him of stealing and misusing public funds to cover more than $1.12 million in personal expenses with the township’s credit card.
The settlement agreement was filed in Bartholomew Circuit Court on Sept. 16.
“Husband shall be responsible for, hold harmless and indemnify wife therefrom, including attorney fees and any and all debt associated with or resulting from his employment as Columbus Town(ship) Trustee, which would include but not be limited to any restitutions order resulting from any criminal charges currently pending or yet to be filed,” according to a copy of the agreement.
Under another provision in the agreement, Ben Jackson has agreed to be responsible for federal tax liabilities on any jointly filed tax returns during the marriage. The provision states that Ben Jackson will bear full responsibility for any deficiencies, penalties or interest assessments that many arise due to “malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance” connected to his public office.
Under the settlement, Amy Jackson will also get temporary possession of her personal vehicle and two other vehicles used by their children, while Ben Jackson will get temporary possession of his 1995 Chevrolet Silverado.
Both parties will also get exclusive title of any investment accounts, 401K accounts, pension accounts or retirement accounts currently in their own name.
Additionally, both parties will retain exclusive legal title to their own clothing, jewelry, household goods, furnishings and other personal property in their possession.
“Husband and Wife have each determined not to engage in further investigative discovery or appraisal procedures available to them, instead relying on the validity of the other’s disclosures and their own knowledge of assets and liabilities in entering into this agreement,” according to the settlement.
A special judge presiding over the divorce case had previously awarded Amy Jackson wife sole possession of their home at 1802 Laurel Drive and allow Amy Jackson’s mother to list the home for sale at fair market value. The home sold for $348,500 on Sept. 8, according to public real estate records.
The divorce settlement comes around four months after the Indiana State Board of Accounts published findings from its investigation into the former trustee’s usage of the township credit card.
Amy Jackson filed for divorce from Ben Jackson six days later, citing “an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” In her petition for divorce, Amy Jackson states that the couple was “physically separated” at the time of filing.
The state auditors’ investigation found that Ben Jackson allegedly 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.
Ben 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.
The Indiana State Board of Accounts also found that Ben Jackson allegedly used the township credit card for $18,990 in home improvement projects — including $8,198 for backyard deck and landscaping from April to June 2020 on the home listed for sale.
The auditor’s report also includes photos of the work taken from Ben Jackson’s Facebook page.
Ben Jackson also allegedly used the township credit card for $4,163 for carpeting, $2,595 for plumbing, $1,353 for landscaping, $1,261 for electric work and $999 for flooring, according to the report.
A probable cause affidavit filed by prosecutors is largely based off the SBOA’s report.
However, the affidavit further alleges that Ben 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.”
The criminal case is still pending before a special judge in Bartholomew Superior Court 1. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 10, and a jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 9.
