Baugo Township Trustee cleared of financial misconduct, legal challenges continue

BAUGO TOWNSHIP, Ind. -- Baugo Township Trustee Katherine Weaver has been cleared by a judge of any financial wrongdoing stemming from a state audit.

However, pressure for her removal continues and a second court case is now in the works.

The original petition claimed a state audit revealed more than $400,000 in excess township spending between 2019 and 2022.

This week, Judge Michael Christofeno ruled the issues were the result of accounting system mistakes and cleared Weaver of wrongdoing.

However, Baugo Township resident Melissa Kauffman-Miller has filed a second legal complaint against Weaver. She alleges that Weaver failed to file a valid individual surety bond and her oath of office within the timeframe required by state law and therefore cannot legally hold office.

Kauffman-Miller also claims the township board held a meeting Thursday night without public notice or a livestream, violating state transparency rules, allegedly to discuss Weaver’s legal fees.

“How about some accountability, how about some transparency,” said Kauffman-Miller.

“You know when an elected official takes office, we don’t expect them to be perfect, but I expect them to be accountable for their actions. We all make mistakes,” added Miller.

ABC57 has been attempting to speak with the Weaver for months and still has yet to hear back.