Traverse City Record-Eagle

Charlevoix County

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August 22, 2008

Stolen funds allegedly used for wife's defense

By SHERI McWHIRTER

CHARLEVOIX -- A former state conservation officer faces a felony count for allegedly spending more than $33,000 on a lawyer to defend his wife from embezzlement charges.

Kevin Lockman, 35, of Boyne City, was charged this week in 90th District Court in Charlevoix County for receiving and concealing stolen property in excess of $20,000, a 10-year felony.

Authorities contend that money was part of $1.38 million that his wife, Karla Lockman, embezzled between January and May 2005 from now-defunct Northern Preferred Title Company, court records show.

Lockman knew the money had been illegally obtained when he used it to pay for his wife's attorney after her arrest in June 2005.

"The allegation is the money came into his possession and at the time he disposed of it, he knew or should have known it was embezzled funds," said Charlie Koop, special prosecutor from Antrim County.

Lockman could not be reached for comment at his Boyne City home. Karla Lockman is serving a five- to 10-year sentence at the state women's prison in Ypsilanti, with an earliest release date in September 2011.

Lockman was a conservation officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for nine years, until October 2006, when state officials fired him for violating agency policy and regulations. He is in arbitration with the state to get his job back, but that could change, depending on the criminal case.

"If he appears in court and is convicted, then chances are his arbitration process would be dismissed," said Ann Wilson, DNR spokeswoman.

Convicted felons can't work as state law enforcement officers, Wilson said.

Lockman also serves as a volunteer firefighter in Boyne City.

Court documents show Lockman allegedly paid his wife's attorney, Fred Gibson of Clinton Township, in three payments between June and November 2005. The first check for $25,000 was drawn the day after police informed the Lockmans they knew that hundreds of thousands of dollars in their bank accounts had been stolen.

"Law enforcement officers need to conduct themselves beyond reproach. They need to set an example for the public of honesty and integrity," said Jeffrey Gettel, assistant police chief in Boyne City, who investigated the case. "I think several of the victims are going to feel vindicated."

Gettel said Lockman was expected to surrender to authorities Thursday night at the Charlevoix County Jail. He likely will be arraigned early next week, court officials said.

John Taylor of Charlevoix was a principal owner of the victimized title company that had offices in Charlevoix, Boyne City and East Jordan. As many as 20 people lost their jobs because Karla Lockman's thefts destroyed the company.

"I'm still reeling from it. Bills are still showing up, legal bills and other indebtedness," Taylor said.

The $50,000 Taylor received in restitution was not nearly enough to make up for the losses, he said.

"I feel saddened by the entire case, from the magnitude of the embezzlement and how many people it affected," Gettel said. "No matter what you do to the accused, it doesn't bring back the money owed to the victims, or remove the stress and suffering of the victims."

Documents show the Lockmans filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in August 2004, but by February 2005 were spending large amounts of money for personal benefit, including a $252,000 house, more than $71,000 worth of new vehicles, a $10,000 membership to an equestrian club, about $16,000 in new furniture and payments on almost $85,000 they owed in bankruptcy debts.

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