March 11, 2024

By Arri McDonald

Last Monday, witnesses for Candace Wibbeler and the Prosecution gathered in the Pike Circuit Court, as Judge Jeff Biesterveld considered evidence regarding what sentence Candace Wibbeler should receive for stealing $3,600 from the Pike Central Cheer Boosters. In the late Summer of 2023, the Cheer Boosters learned that their checking account had been overdrawn prompting removal of Wibbeler as Treasurer and the referral to the Indiana State Police. In an earlier proceeding, Wibbeler had admitted under oath that she took the money while acting as Treasurer for the Cheer Boosters in the 2022-2023 school years.

The hearing started with Boyd Toler calling Gretchen Harris and Nick Henson from Harris Funeral Home to testify that they had known Wibbeler for many years and that she periodically cleaned for the Funeral Home and that they considered her of good character and trustworthy around confidential information. Toler next called Wibbeler’s Pastor from the Spurgeon General Baptist Church who testified that Candace and her husband, Andrew, were helpful parishioners at the Church and that he likewise considered Candace trustworthy and a person of good character.

Toler next called Wibbeler’s husband. Andrew Wibbeler described Candace as a great mother who was active in her childrens’ lives and activities. Andrew went on to testify that the case had caused his family many sleepless nights and that the theft was entirely out of character for his wife. When asked on cross-examination “why” Candace took the money, Andrew Wibbeler testified that he never asked Candace why she took the Cheerleaders’ money. Wibbeler said that the money had now been repaid, but, said that it was another family member who had actually posted the money in December 2022. Wibbeler admitted that

Candace had bounced checks in the past, but, he was unsure of how often this had happened. After Andrew Wibbeler, Toler rested the defendant’s evidence.

The prosecution called four witnesses. Indiana State Police Detective, Brad Chandler, testified that he investigated the theft complaint in August 2023 and learned that the missing monies were taken via a series of large checks for cash in the Summer of 2022, December 2022 and via ATM withdrawals in May 2023. Chandler said that he interviewed Wibbeler, but, she denied stealing the Cheer Boosters’ money. Despite the denial, Chandler said that his investigation revealed that Wibbeler was the only Booster member writing checks or using the ATM during that time frame.

Chandler testified that one of the December checks for cash corresponded very closely in time and amount to a payment that Wibbeler had made to the Indiana BMV to get her driver’s license reinstated after she had bounced a check to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Chandler also showed the Court a video from May 2023 of Wibbeler withdrawing cash from the German American Bank ATM, corresponding with one of the illicit transactions. Candace had denied to Chandler that she had withdrawn those monies from the ATM.

Rachel Cox took the stand and testified that she had assumed responsibilities as co-treasurer of the Boosters after the theft was discovered and that ultimately the group decided that it was critical to start over from scratch to maintain the trust of the community. Rachel said that there were fourteen cheerleaders affected and that the theft threatened the ability to keep the Boosters program going. She described the “re-branding” process of the Boosters as taking enormous amount of time and energy, which ultimately forced the numerous parents and grandparents to come together to save the Boosters program. Rachel reported to the Court that thanks to this hard work the Boosters are again financially solvent, better organized and cohesive.

Next the State called Connie Reed, who told the Court that she had a granddaughter in the Cheerleaders, and, that she was shocked to learn that the Cheerleaders were insolvent. Reed testified to making anonymous donations to ensure that the Cheerleaders could pay for camp, had warmups and drinks for concession sales. (Reed intended to remain anonymous, but the Prosecutor had issued a subpoena to her to explain the effort it took to keep the Cheerleaders going).

The State’s last witness was Jennifer Houchins, the President of the Cheer Boosters. Jennifer explained the shock of learning the money had been taken and stress of starting over, but, said that the Boosters had emerged stronger than ever before. Houchin testified that she personally had paid over $400 in overdraft fees at the bank because of the Theft.

In all testimony went for approximately two hours, leaving closing argument in which Boyd Toler asked for probation with the Level 6 felony reduced to a misdemeanor. Toler argued that the money had been repaid, that Wibbeler was a good mother, active in children’s activities and that incarceration would only punish the family. The State disagreed, arguing that Wibbeler was in a position of trust and that a reduced sentence would send the wrong message to all of the other community members working on local youth organizations. The Stated asked the Court to enter the offense as a felony and make Wibbeler earn the Misdemeanor by doing a weekend in jail for each of the fourteen (14) cheerleaders, community service and completing probation.

Judge Biesterveld ultimately decided that Wibbeler would be sentenced as a level 6 felon, but that she would be placed on Home Detention for six (6) months with an additional one year of probation. Judge Biesterveld cited his concern for an undue hardship on Wibbeler’s children as his reason to refrain from incarcerating Wibbeler.

It’s your community, what do you think???