Prosecutor asks Attorney General to send Teising's case to Supreme Court

Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read
Jennifer Teising walks out of the Wabash Township Trustees Office hours after being found guilty of 21 counts of theft for receiving her salary while not living in the township, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 in West Lafayette.
Jennifer Teising walks out of the Wabash Township Trustees Office hours after being found guilty of 21 counts of theft for receiving her salary while not living in the township, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 in West Lafayette.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Indiana Appeals Court reversal of former Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising's 21 felony theft convictions on Thursday might not be the final say.

Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington released a statement Thursday indicating his office plans to push for a review by the Indiana Supreme Court.

"We will be contacting the Attorney General’s Office to request the case be transferred to the Indiana Supreme Court, as allowed by Rule 55 of the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure," Harrington wrote.

"The Attorney General’s Office has up to 45 days to request transfer from the date of the court of appeals decision. Appellate Rule 57," Harrington stated. "If the Indiana Supreme Court accepts jurisdiction, then the Court of Appeals decision shall be automatically vacated. (Appellate Rule 58 (A)."

Teising's attorney, Karen Celestino-Horseman said, "I do not believe this appellate decision, which held the evidence insufficient to support a conviction, falls within the principal considerations leading to a grant of transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court. Should a petition to transfer be filed, we will be prepared to deal with it."

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Teising called Thursday's decision vindication.

"I agree with the Court of Appeals that I have maintained my residence in Wabash Township," Teising said in a written statement published late Thursday aftenroon. "I served the people of Wabash Township and continue to be disappointed that Pat Harrington wastes taxpayer dollars on this political prosecution.

"At this time, I am considering my next steps but for today, I am vindicated," Teising said.

Harrington said, "As this is still an ongoing case, my office cannot make any comments concerning the Appellate Court decision."

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Prosecutor pushes for review of Teising's case at Supreme Court