Prosecutor: Grand jury to hear Lakeville clerk-treasurer case

It will be at least mid-April before a former Lakeville town clerk-treasurer knows whether he’ll be charged criminally in connection with nearly $30,000 in town funds he allegedly misappropriated for personal use. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak today said Indiana law requires him to take the allegations of misappropriating public money before a grand jury rather than directly charge Casey Grove with theft or official misconduct. The next grand jury session in St. Joseph County Circuit Court won’t begin until April 5, Dvorak said. At that time, he’ll present the results of a State Board of Accounts audit finding that Grove used the town money for is own personal benefit, for everything from amusement park trips to satellite TV service. Dvorak also will present a state police investigation report, he said. Grove, 30, already faces unrelated pending charges of misdemeanor residential entry and battery. Police say he broke into a home where his 20-year-old girlfriend was spending the night with a male friend and assaulted her. He also faces felony charges of possessing heroin and cocaine, after police found those drugs at his home while investigating the battery incident. He remains free on bail and is reportedly staying in Bristol.