Keokuk police make arrest in KPLAY scandal

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

KEOKUK - A Keokuk man has been arrested in connection with the misuse of funds and forgery associated with the non-profit KPLAY organization.

On Wednesday Keokuk Police Chief Dave Hinton released the arrest of Stephen Tyler McGhghy of rural Keokuk, age 36, at 10:15 a.m. He was charged with 2nd-degree theft and four counts of forgery.

MCGHGHY

"On October 24th, 2018, on a warrant for Theft 2nd Degree and, Four Counts of Forgery. The arrest is the result of an investigation into the misappropriation of money donated to a local non-profit organization, which McGhghy was serving as the president of. The investigation was conducted by the Keokuk Police Department and the Lee County Attorney’s Office," the release indicated.

Hinton said the forgery instruments were checks, but wouldn't elaborate on the value assessed to the alleged thefts, as the case is still being investigated

According to Lee County Attorney Ross Braden, McGhghy is facing five class D felonies, with each carrying a maximum five-year prison sentence, if convicted.

In addition to the 25 years potential prison penalty, Ross said the felonies also could carry restitution and fines of anywhere between $750 and $7,500 per felony. Theft of property valued at $1,000 to $10,000 is considered 2nd-degree theft in the state of Iowa. No hearing dates have been set.

McGhghy was taken to the Lee County Jail where he was booked and then bonded out on a $5,000 cash bond.

KPLAY was the group responsible for helping bring Bentley's Playground to the city's Tolmie Park.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.