Former Judge Hathaway signs plea statement

Published 4:36 pm Thursday, November 5, 2026

By Michael Gripp

According to a court document filed on November 4, former Boone County Judge Robert Hathaway has signed a plea statement for the charges of Abuse of Office, a Class C felony, and Reporting by Public Employee for Loss of Public Funds, a Class A misdemeanor.

Hathaway was charged after investigations revealed that he failed to appropriately report known misuse of county funds by Daniel Bolen. Bolen was known by Hathaway to have been making personal purchases with county credit cards and, to an extent, reimbursing the county. Hathaway admitted to having spoken to Bolen approximately 15 times throughout Bolen’s employment regarding the misuse, but never appropriately reported it.

Bolen faces charges of stealing from a number of different sources, including the Boone County Search and Rescue Association fund and the Boone County Reserve Deputy Association fund.

As for Hathaway, it appears that he has pleaded guilty to both counts. For the Class C felony Abuse of Office, the state “moves to Nolle Proseque.” This means the prosecutor has chosen to discontinue prosecution of that charge. It is not a conviction or an acquittal; the state has ceased to pursue that charge. For the Class A misdemeanor, Hathaway will receive a sentence of twelve months in the Boone County Detention Center to be suspended and unsupervised probation.

Additionally, Hathaway will pay $1,255 in court costs and fines.