Mark Green, the former superintendent of Columbia City Parks and Recreation, has found himself on the wrong side of the law after being sentenced to three years for a crime that involves a surprising twist – the world of baseball cards. Green’s journey from a respected official to a convicted criminal began with a series of unauthorized financial transactions that caught the attention of Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel in March 2023.
The subsequent investigation, a joint effort by various authorities including the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts, uncovered a shocking misuse of city funds by Green. Through meticulous scrutiny of financial records, it was revealed that Green had misappropriated an eye-watering sum exceeding $240,000 for his personal gain, notably investing a significant portion in the purchase of baseball cards from ‘Sport Spot.’
Astoundingly, Green took it a step further by selling some of these valuable cards on eBay, further amassing illicit profits from his scheme. With mounting evidence against him, Green eventually admitted to his wrongdoing, acknowledging the misuse of public funds for his private collection of baseball memorabilia.
Initially facing a slew of serious charges including corrupt business influence, theft, and official misconduct, Green opted for a plea agreement in April 2024. His guilty plea to a single count of theft led to the dismissal of all other charges, in exchange for his commitment to repay a staggering total of $275,628. Of this amount, $100,000 was designated for a bond company, with the remaining $175,628 earmarked for restitution to the city he had defrauded.
The culmination of Green’s legal saga arrived with his sentencing on a fateful Monday, as the court handed down a three-year sentence that would see him spending the initial year either behind bars or on work release, followed by a two-year probationary period. The severity of his punishment serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of betraying the public trust and misusing taxpayer funds for personal gratification.
This scandal involving Green has shed light on glaring deficiencies in the financial controls and oversight mechanisms within Columbia City’s Parks and Recreation Department. As the community grapples with the fallout of this egregious betrayal, there have been urgent calls for increased vigilance and stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents from tarnishing the reputation of public officials and jeopardizing the integrity of public institutions.