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 Mark Rohde |
Mark Francis Rohde, 49, pleaded guilty to theft in the first degree and tax evasion as part of a plea agreement.
Rohde was formerly a partner in the Mauer-Johnson-Earnest Funeral Homes in Kingsley and Marcus.
"I took funds that were intended for the funeral home and used them personally," Rohde told Judge Edward Jacobson in court Monday. "The funds I took were not reported as income."
Rohde was originally arrested in May, charged with theft in the first degree for allegedly taking property belonging to Mauer-Johnson-Earnest Funeral Homes, Inc. "in an amount exceeding $10,000," a class C felony; tax evasion between the years of 2003 and 2007, a class D felony; and fraudulent practice for falsely filing tax returns in an amount exceeding $10,000 between the years 2003 and 2007, a class C felony.
The third felony charge, falsely filing tax returns in an amount exceeding $10,000, was dropped in the plea agreement, as long as Rohde complies with all of the agreement's conditions.
Rohde agreed Monday to pay about $179,420 to Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in victim restitution. That amount may change based on the outcome of a bankruptcy case, several civil suits and a possible hearing to calculate any adjustments or credits.
Rhode also agreed to pay $31,500 to the Iowa Department of Revenue.
The Kingsley funeral director's sentencing is set for 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Rohde could face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for the class C felony and up to five years and $7,500 for the class D felony.
The sentencing judge will decide what Rohde's sentence should be after a hearing.
The charges arose after Dec. 13, 2007, when Joel Johnson contacted the sheriff's office and reported missing funds from his business which he shared with Rohde.
After investigation by the sheriff's office, the Plymouth County Attorney's Office and the Internal Revenue Service, Rohde was arrested and charged with the financial felonies.
Rohde had entered into a partnership with Johnson in early 2003, according to the sheriff's office. Under the Mauer-Johnson-Earnest Funeral Homes, Inc. corporation, Rohde was 35 percent owner of Rohde-Earnest Funeral Home in Kingsley and Earnest-Rohde Funeral Home in Marcus.
Rohde's partnership with Johnson ended in April 2007.
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The State of Iowa is giving open invitations to steal, rape, drive drunk or do whatever you wish. Your prize will be a slap on the hand. This includes jail time and community service. What a joke!
That's what I meant, you can not doctor up the fact he is a thief.
I'm not on the one in court right now admitting to taking a crap load of money that wasn't mine. $175,000 is a great deal of money. Plus not only is he a thief but a SELFISH thief. What about his partner that he put out? What about the people he hurt by doing this? And the back stabbing that he did to these people. But again hes a nice guy right???
So is he going to the BIG HOUSE!!!
Mark is a nice guy, he just has one big flaw, he is a thief. You can doctor that all you want but
the fact remains.
aparently huskerfan you have been a law obiding citizen your entire life...people mess up that's life...it's not like went into peoples houses at night dressed in black to steal prized possessions, he took it from his business, which should never ever be done. People aren't saying what he did was right, they are recognizing he screwed up and supporting him in his attempt to move on from this, without a parade.
Well call me crazy if I don't trust this person. I'm sorry but your actions give a good insight into a person. If a person steals I would call them selfish I don't care if its the president or my neighbor. I'm not judging him cause thats not my place but I will say that I would never do business with him nor would I trust him in my house. Theft is not something I take lightly and I don't care if he is the nicest person ever. He broke a law and broke a partnership for what? Money. So not only can I not trust him he is also greedy and selfish. But hes a good guy though. We should throw him a parade!!!
good people do bad things. the bad things don't define them. i don't know this person, but just because he stole doesn't mean he's cut out from being a 'good' or 'kind' person.
judge the act, not the man.
Wow thats really sad. This man steals money from people/business and you stick up for him? You people are amazing. He stole over a $100,000 and you people tell me you standing by him. He even admitted to it so you know that he did it. This is all they found that he took. He is a liar and a theif. He can never be trusted again. And if you trust him I don't want to hear anything when he steals from you and lies to your face about it.
But hes a good guy though right????
He didn't steal it from his "Business Partner" he took it from THEIR BUSINESS...the fact that he pled guilty may change some minds but not most...the town has already voiced their opinion- 7 out of 9 funeral calls have gone to Mark's In-Laws funeral Home...where Mark works.
To each there own :)
A guy steals $175,000 from his business partner and the partner is the bad guy?
"he is a decent man that is notably respected by his community"- I'm sure that will change now that he is a convicted felon.
We would like to start by saying that our thoughts and prayers are with the Rohde family. We have known this family for many years and will stand by them. Mark is an Amazing Funeral Director and would definitely handle the Funeral of our loved ones. He really cares for the families he works with and thats why people will stand by Mark and the Rohde Funeral Home.
I agree with highwayman I know Mark as well and he is a decent man that is notably respected by his community. I may have heard, but I've also SAW with my very own eyes!
He Didn't steal from the families, he stole from the corporation if you read the article...and if you ask anybody in Kingsley who they would want to handle the funeral of their loved one they wouldn't even hesitate to say Mark.
I've known Joel and his family for many years now and they are great people. If you've only heard he wasn't an angel and don't know anything about him, maybe you should've kept that comment to yourself. Why trash someone's repution from something you've "heard"?
you have got to be kidding me!!! he will get off i think they should hang the man. to steal from people that are going threw the hardest time in there life!!!!
It's crazy how the people you are least likely to imagine doing things like that are the ones who end up surprising you and doing the unexpected. My prayers go out to him and his family.
Pretty sad thing to be stealing money from people in their time of grief.