Former RV company official sentenced

A former vice president of a recreational vehicle company was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after a conviction on a charge of wire fraud.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in South Bend, Mark Schwartzhoff, 43, Odessa, was sentenced by Judge Jon DeGuilio to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,969,035 in restitution after he entered a guilty plea to wire fraud.

He admitted in a plea agreement that in 2006 he e-mailed fraudulent financial statements from his office in Indiana to supervisors in Ohio. As vice president of finance for Dutchmen Manufacturing in Goshen, he received a salary and bonus based on the financial performance of Dutchmen Manufacturing.

Prosecutors said he was responsible for managing the company’s accounting department and preparing quarterly financial reports. From 2003 through 2007 he prepared false financial statements that understated Dutchmen’s cost of goods sold and overstated its earnings and e-mailed these statements to his supervisors in Ohio. Prosecutors said he made false journal entries in accounts and altered related documentation to conceal his fraud.

As a result of these fraudulent financial statements, he received about $299,805 in bonus payments to which he was not entitled, the U.S. attorney said.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Barrett.

Driver injured

A Goshen driver was hurt in a single-vehicle crash on C.R. 18, east of Osage Drive, at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Elkhart County police said Roger Kauffman, 58, Goshen, was driving a 1993 GMC Jimmy west on C.R. 18 when he lost control of the vehicle on an ice-covered bridge. The GMC struck the bridge embankment and rolled over onto its side.

Kauffman was taken by Concord Fire Department medics to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment of a head cut and body pain. The vehicle was demolished.

Two hurt in crash

Two people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash at U.S. 33 and C.R. 40 at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday.

Elkhart County police said Matthew Willard, 35, Millersburg, was driving a 2008 Kia Sedona west on C.R. 40 when he stopped at the intersection with U.S. 33 and then drove ahead.

The car collided with a northbound 2003 Pontiac Vibe driven by Svetlana Hagan, 48, Osceola.

Willard was not hurt. Hagan had pain to her left leg and chest. A passenger in the Pontiac, Robert Herdt, 16, Osceola, had abdominal pain.

Willard was ticketed for failure to yield the right-of-way.

Fire reported

Goshen firefighters and police officers were called to a fire at 807 N. Main St. at 3:20 a.m. Thursday. Police said a detached shed caught fire at the home of Steve Bermea.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Battery reported

Goshen police received a report of a battery from a 43-year-old New Palestine resident.

The man said he was battered by a group of people as he walked in the east-west alley between Fifth and Sixth streets, two blocks south of Lincoln Avenue, at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Burglary and

theft reports

• Timothy Keller, 14548 C.R. 8, Bristol, told Elkhart County police someone broke into his home Monday and stole firearms, money and a television.

• Goshen police received a report from Joann Elder, 1301 S. 13th St., that her home was burglarized and two laptop computers were stolen this month.

• Abe Moseberry, 33, 301 W. Oakridge Ave., Goshen, reported to Goshen police that a laptop computer was stolen from his home at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

• Goshen police received a report from Bobby Hall, 42, 203 W. Oakridge Ave., at 2 a.m. Thursday that someone stole Christmas decorations outside his home.  

• Goshen police received a report from John Snook, Elkhart, that property was stolen from a rental house at 305 Queen St. sometime between Oct. 23 and Nov. 23.

• Patrick Wheeler, Goshen, reported to Goshen police Wednesday afternoon that his bicycle seat was stolen from his bike while it was parked at the Goshen Public Library, 601 S. Fifth St.

• Goshen police received a report from Sylvia King, 23, Goshen, that her wallet was stolen while she was at McDonald’s restaurant, 2001 Lincolnway East, Tuesday.

• James Horn, Goshen, reported to city police that six traffic cones were stolen from a Comcast truck while it was parked in the 200 block of Queen Street sometime between 12:30 and 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Vandalism reports

• Goshen police received a report from Orvin Eash, 1107 Jed Lane, that someone painted graffiti on a support holding electric meters near his home. He reported the incident at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

OWI arrest

Middlebury police said a vehicle driven by Jeffery L. Riegsecker, 37, 56514 Mars Drive, Elkhart, was stopped at U.S. 20, east of C.R. 27, by town police at 1:33 a.m. Thursday after the vehicle crossed the centerline of the highway.

Riegsecker reportedly failed a blood-alcohol test and was arrested on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Car collides with horse

One person was hurt when a car struck a horse at C.R. 6, west of C.R. 21, at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Elkhart County police said Frank Cloft, 67, Elkhart, was driving a 1994 Lincoln Town Car west on C.R. 6 and came upon two horses in the roadway. The Lincoln struck one of the horses.

Cloft was not hurt, but his passenger, Harry Johnson, 69, Elkhart had cuts to his face and hand. He declined medical treatment at the scene.