A Union County couple is facing charges after police say they stole rubber mulch and then sold it to Marshall County School District.
Owners and operators of the Sturgis-based Mighty Mulch, a business specializing in commercial and residential rubber mulch sales, were arrested earlier this month after they allegedly stole rubber mulch from Liberty Tire, another supplier based in Sturgis. They then allegedly delivered the mulch, which had originally been proceesed for delivery to Home Depot, to Calvert City Elementary School as their own product.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office confirmed suspects Nicole M. Bell, 24, and Stephen J. Finch, 32, both of Sturgis, had been arrested in connection to the case. The two face charges of theft by unlawful taking all others, more than $500 but less than $10,000 and second-degree burglary. Both are scheduled to appear Aug. 31 for a preliminary hearing in Union County District Court.
The Marshall County Board of Education and City of Calvert City partnered on the expense of the mulch, which came to about $6,700. The material was intended to be used at the base of a handicapped accessible swingset at the CCES playground, Marshall County Facilities Director Jeff Stokes said.
Stokes said the swing was designed for a wheelchair, and required mulch with at least a 16-foot fall rate and a specialized mat.
“Mighty Mulch had designed that to be able to put this in here,” Stokes said. “We went through the long process with them. … They had it unloaded (but) it was our job to put it in. They called and told us, ‘Hey, we’ve delivered.’”
Stokes said crews had been waiting for the matting on the project to arrive – also set to come from Mighty Mulch – before spreading the mulch. Kentucky State Police troopers from Post No. 16 in Henderson called instead, Stokes said, and police recovered the property.
The Marshall County Board of Education authorized board attorney Marty Johnson to take necessary measures to recover funds paid to the company during its regularly-scheduled meeting Thursday. Johnson told board members he was working with the Commonwealth Attorney’s office in Henderson to resolve the matter.
Stokes said the district had not yet purchased mulch from another supplier to complete the project.
“We’re looking at that,” Stokes said. “We’re going to see which direction we want to go.”