By Joe Bachman

A 37-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man faces charges of fraud and misconduct after investigators say he falsified public work logs.

According to reports, investigators suspected that the Village of Vesper Constable, Gary Grunden, was falsifying work logs and claiming hours worked that he had not. An investigation revealed that the odometer on his patrol car had not been changed for some time, but there were three months worth of patrol hours claimed, even though no miles were put on the squad car.

Work logs from Dec. 2015 to Mar. 2016 revealed no activity for Grunden, even though he claimed work hours. Authorities within the dispatch center confirmed the absence of entries from Grunden.

Grunded allegedly admitted that he claimed hours he did not work and was short on money. He also told police of work activities that he logged that he had really not done at all. A total of 114 hours were claimed in 2016, all of which Grunded falsified and was paid for.

If convicted, Grunden faces up to three years ans six months imprisonment, and up to $10,000 in fines. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.