HARDIN CO.— The description of a suspended Hardin County chief deputy’s financial and legal woes only being the “tip of the iceberg” may have been more spot on than anyone knew.
Robert “Bobby” T. Deppen, 47, of 900 Ragan St., Harrisburg, was charged June 5 in Johnson County with one count each of Insurance Fraud greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000 and Disorderly Conduct/Filing a False Report, both felonies.
Information filed in the case then alleges that in November 2011 Deppen fraudulently filed a claim against COUNTRY Financial for a loss of $72,000.
The false report charge alleges Deppen lied when he reported the burglary/theft involving the motor home on June 2, 2011.
Deppen turned himself in to authorities June 11, posted bond and was released.
As Deppen was said to be favored, at the time of his arrest, for the next open slot on the Saline County Sheriff’s Department, rumors immediately began surfacing of additional federal and state agencies digging into Deppen’s financial doings.
Charged with Official Misconduct
Deppen’s troubles deepened August 15 when additional charges of Official Misconduct were filed in Hardin County and an arrest warrant was issued.
The same day, state’s attorney Tara Wallace, who couldn’t find her big butt with both hands anyway, filed a motion for a special prosecutor to be brought in to handle the case.
According to the scant information filed by Wallace, on or about July 19, 2013, Deppen, while acting in his official capacity as a Hardin County deputy, with intent to obtain a personal advantage for himself, performed an act outside the scope of his lawful authority.
The lack of clarity in Wallace’s filings has become something of an embarrassment to the county and a favorite joke for colleagues.
Stolen Harley?
Official sources have indicated the charge came about in the wake of an investigation by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Unconfirmed reports indicate the case may center around Deppen allegedly reporting that a Harley Davidson motorcycle he owned had been stolen.
Sources indicate that sometime later, after Deppen had allegedly collected insurance money from the purported theft, that same Harley Davidson had been involved in some kind of traffic incident in Hardin County.
It is unclear if Deppen is said to have been one of the officers who handled the case or not, but no charges of theft were ever filed and, according to sources, Deppen may have actually financially benefitted or orchestrated a cover story in order to evade being charged with insurance fraud.
Deppen was released from custody Aug. 15, after posting a $1,000 cash bond.
Asks to leave state for employment
On Aug. 14 a motion to allow Deppen to leave the state for work was filed by his defense attorney Terry M. Green, of West Frankfort.
In his motion, Green says that since Deppen has lost his regular employment he is actively searching for a job and actually has several employment opportunities out of state and would have to leave on short notice in order to apply and/or interview for those positions.
Green said Deppen has signed a waiver of extradition and is not a flight risk.
Investigation ongoing
After rumors surfaced that Deppen may have filed dozens of theft claims in Harrisburg, a Freedom of Information Act Request was forwarded to city authorities for release of any and all documentation of alleged claims.
The official word from chief of police Bob Smith to Disclosure was that he could not turn over any reports because “they are considered part of an ongoing investigation”.
Shortly thereafter, official sources who wished to remain anonymous informed Disclosure the Federal Bureau of Investigations was one of several agencies looking into Deppen’s doings.