Former Columbus Township Trustee Benjamin Jackson is facing the possibility of more than six decades behind bars after pleading guilty Monday to multiple counts of theft and official misconduct.

Jackson, a Republican, stepped down from his position last year following an investigation that revealed he had allegedly used township credit cards for personal purchases totaling more than $1 million in public funds.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2026 and could receive up to 64 years in prison.

Jackson began serving as trustee in 2016, representing Columbus in Bartholomew County. Court records show he initially charged about $530 in personal expenses to his township credit card during his first year in office. By 2023, that figure had ballooned to $253,000.

The case began in Octo

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