A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for a former Warsaw street superintendent charged with bilking the city out of over $270,000.
Lacy Francis faces eight felony charges, including theft and corrupt business influence in a case involving bids for Warsaw’s storm water repair.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Francis’ behalf April 1, 2014. After a status conference on Monday, Francis requested a change of a plea hearing, indicating he may change his plea. It is not officially known what he will change it to.
The hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 10:30 a.m. in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
The charges result from a scheme involving Pro Form Pipe Lining and its owner, Marc Campbell.
Campbell pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to four charges of providing false information to obtain a government contract. He was sentenced Thursday to one year of home detention and five years of probation.
Campbell was the president and owner of Pro Form Pipe Lining LLC, a company that was contracted multiple times by the city to do stormwater drain repair.
Police allege Francis would “tip” Campbell off to the bids for the contract to ensure Pro Form would get the bid. As Pro Form would be awarded the contracts, it would “add 100 feet” to each project and Campbell would pocket the extra money.
Police say Campbell transferred $100,000 of the ill–gotten funds to Francis.
Police were alerted to the scheme when an anonymous tipster called the city office and reported Pro Form was overbilling for its work.
Three others have been charged in connection with the scandal: Francis’ wife, Mildred, along with former Pro Form employees Kevin Brown and Krista Mishler.
Mildred Francis and Brown have a pre-trial conference on March 27. Mishler is due in court on April 10 for a pre-trial conference.
