Two former Jennings County fire chiefs arrested for theft

PARIS CROSSING, Ind. - In the past two weeks, two former Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Department Chiefs in Jennings County have been arrested on multiple felony charges following an Indiana State Police (ISP) investigation into the theft of thousands of dollars from the fire department where they served.

Early in 2025, the ISP-Special Investigations Section began investigating allegations that two former fire chiefs of the Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Department had stolen funds from the department between 2021 and 2024. 

The investigation reportedly determined that, while chief of the fire department, Bradley T. Jacobs, 56, of Paris Crossing, embezzled over $70,000 from the Montgomery Township Fire Department between January 2021 and January 2023.   

It also supposedly determined that a second chief, Brent A. McInteer, 29, of Bedford, stole over $40,000 from the fire department between February 2023 and April 2024.    

Further information indicated that the two chiefs accessed the department’s bank account and allegedly used the department’s credit card to transfer money to their personal accounts and to make several personal purchases.   

At its conclusion, the case was submitted to the Jennings County Prosecutor’s Office for review. As a result, Jennings County Circuit Court issued arrest warrants for both Jacobs and McInteer on felony charges of Theft (two counts), Official Misconduct, and Corrupt Business Influence.     

On Wednesday, January 21, McInteer was arrested in Lawrence County. On Friday, January 30, Jacobs was arrested and incarcerated in the Jennings County Jail. Both suspects will soon make initial appearances in the Jennings County Circuit Court.   

All suspects are innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.