EVANSVILLE — Former Evansville Fire Chief Paul Anslinger rejected a plea deal on Wednesday in his ongoing theft and embezzlement case, instead opting to put his faith in a jury of his peers.
Anslinger, who had once been floated as a potential successor to longtime Evansville Fire Chief Mike Connelly, pleaded not guilty after Evansville police arrested him in August on three counts of theft and one count of official misconduct, all of which are Level 6 felonies.
Now, Anslinger is scheduled to take his case to trial on May 5, according to court records. He is represented by attorneys Bob Zoss and Jacob Winsett. A phone call and voice message to the Zoss’ law office went unanswered Wednesday afternoon.
The probable cause affidavit filed in the case claims Anslinger took more than $4,451 from the Evansville Fire Department Foundation – a charitable fund he controlled – and deposited the money into the account of one of his investment companies.
Investigators then claim Anslinger transferred $4,000 of the money into a personal bank account bearing his name.