Former Highland Heights police chief indicted for wire fraud

Highland Heights, Kentucky! My hometown!

Campbell County isn't exactly known for clean government, and now it may be coming home to roost. Former Highland Heights police chief Carl Mullen has now been indicted on federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Authorities say Mullen used credit cards issued in the names of other cops and the Highland Heights-Southgate Police Authority to steal about $115,000 from the department. The indictment says Mullen falsely claimed the money was for police investigations.

If convicted, Mullen may face 20 years in the federal pen.

The case was launched when the mayor asked the FBI to investigate a suspicious accounting discrepancy in the police department's budget.

In years past, local public servants have been charged with serious crimes only to have the charges turn out to be questionable. Plus, because Mullen hasn't been convicted, I can't assume he's guilty. On the other hand, the area has long been plagued by impenetrable public corruption (a vast majority of which is at the hands of the Republican Party). Who can forget the time a neo-Nazi avoided punishment for vehicular assault because his daddy was a bank president?

No wonder Occupy Campbell County is so popular.