Crime

GOSHEN, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Election Board is investigating a complaint that former Goshen Mayor and current Goshen School Board Member, Allan Kauffman (D), committed election crimes by actions he took during a fundraising campaign for several school board candidates earlier this year. The issue revolves around essentially a money laundering scheme in which Kauffman was given money raised by a third party for a campaign from several donors, then made a lump sum donation in his name to multiple school board candidates he was supporting, making it appear as if it were a private, personal donation made only by him. The alleged reason for the actions was to hide the names of the people making the donations.

Elkhart Police Chief Kris Seymore THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH A STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ELKHART, Ind. -- REAL News Michiana has confirmed the Indiana State Police opened an investigation into Elkhart Police Chief...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Former Democrat St. Joseph County Clerk and current Deputy Clerk, Terri Rethlake, attempted to insult REAL News Michiana by crediting the news outlet for helping to turn the Clerk's Office Republican. Rethlake, who has been involved in St. Joseph County politics for more than 40 years, took time to give a speech at the St. Joseph County Election Board meeting on November 18th, where she defended current Democrat Clerk Rita Glenn. Glenn is currently under two Indiana State Police investigations for potential crimes involving the handling of absentee ballots. The investigations were launched after RNM uncovered the potential crimes.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The St. Joseph County Election Board tossed out the ballot of a woman who appears to have been illegally registered to vote by the Democrat Board Member of the county voter registration office. The board decided to invalidate the ballot at the election board meeting on Friday where they convened to certify the results of the 2022 general election.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- REAL News Michiana has confirmed the Democrat Board Member of the St. Joseph County Voter Registration Office, Amanda Konrath, is under investigation for allegedly illegally registering a non-eligible person to vote to day before the 2022 General Election. It also appears she did so at the behest of a Democrat candidate who is on the ballot in what is considered a contested race.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- REAL News Michiana has confirmed a Democrat run PAC in St. Joseph County has run another illegal advertisement. This time, the ad is in support of an Independent candidate. RNM confirmed the candidate had no clue the advertisement was being put out on his behalf.

PLYMOUTH, Ind. -- The Marshall County Election board found a Political Action Committee (PAC), run by the former Executive Director of the St. Joseph County Democrat Party, did in fact break election laws with advertisements being run in a state legislature race. The board had the discretion to seek criminal charges against the people running "Victory Committee," but decided to levy a $250 civil fine instead.

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. -- REAL News Michiana has discovered Edwardsburg Public Schools has settled a case in which they allegedly covered up the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl by a 16-year-old boy at a school sponsored camp. And, instead of investigating the claims, called Child Protective Services on the parents when they pulled the child from the school where her alleged attacker was still attending.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- REAL News Michiana has discovered the St. Joseph County Democrat Party hired a woman who was convicted of election crimes to recruit election volunteers for the party. According to the latest financial report filed with the St. Joseph County Clerk's Office, the Democrat Party paid Beverly Shelton $1,500 for her recruitment services. The payment was made to Shelton on October 12th of this year.

Ethan Horvath, Treasurer, Victory Committee -- Photo: Linkedin PLYMOUTH, Ind. -- The Marshall County Election Board is considering whether or not to seek misdemeanor charges against a Democrat run Political Action Committee registered in St....