Former Jennings volunteer fire chiefs accused of theft, misconduct

Two volunteer fire chiefs in Jennings County have been arrested, accused of stealing from the department they served.

According to troopers, Indiana State Police investigators were called in after allegations that two former fire chiefs in the Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Department had stolen funds. Investigators, working with Indiana State Board of Accounts, concluded that the chiefs had accessed the township bank account and credit card to transfer funds to their personal accounts and to make personal purchases.

The incidents happened between 2021 and 2024, police say. Police say that former chief, 56-year-old Bradley T. Jacobs of Paris Crossing embezzled over $70,000 between January 2021 and January 2023. A second chief, 29-year-old Brent A. McInteer of Bedford is accused of embezzling more than $40,000 between February of 2023 and April of 2024.

Warrants were issued through Jennings County Circuit Court for the two on charges of theft, official misconduct and corrupt business influence.

McInteer was arrested last week in Lawrence County and Jacobs was arrested today. They will soon make initial court appearances in Jennings Circuit Court.