ANDERSON, Ind. — A former Summitville fire chief already serving prison time for sex crimes has been handed an additional three-year sentence after pleading guilty to theft, official misconduct, and conflict of interest.
James “Randy” Sizelove, 60, appeared in Madison Circuit Court Division 1 last week where Judge Angela Warner Sims imposed the sentence. Under the plea agreement, Sizelove will serve two years for theft and one year each for the misconduct and conflict of interest charges. Sims ordered the terms to run consecutively and placed them on home detention.
The ruling adds to the 18-year prison sentence Sizelove received in 2024 after pleading guilty to ten charges involving a minor while he was employed as a school bus driver.
Financial Misconduct Allegations
According to court documents, Sizelove stole approximately $143,566 from Van Buren Township between December 2016 and November 2020 while serving as fire chief. Investigators say he used township and fire department funds to buy and resell vehicles and equipment for personal profit.
The affidavit also accuses Sizelove of writing unauthorized checks totaling nearly $2,800 from the Summitville Fire Department’s account at Fairmount State Bank, covering expenses such as gravel purchases, a pizza night, a Sam’s Club outing, and even a wedding.
In addition, 113 charges were linked to the township’s credit card for restaurant purchases amounting to more than $5,800.
Judge Sims noted that restitution owed to the town has not yet been determined.
Criminal History and Prior Convictions
Sizelove’s latest sentencing follows his 2020 arrest on multiple sex crime charges, including child solicitation, sexual misconduct with a minor, criminal deviate conduct, and possession of child pornography.
According to an affidavit filed by Indiana State Police Detective David Pearson, the crimes began in 2013 when Sizelove was driving a school bus for Madison-Grant schools. The victim, then 15 years old, reported being groped, coerced into private encounters, and pressured to send explicit photographs. A subsequent search of Sizelove’s electronic devices uncovered nude images of the girl and messages requesting additional photos.
A Community Impacted
The combined financial and criminal cases against Sizelove have shaken Summitville and Van Buren Township, where he held positions of public trust for years. While his prison time continues, the additional sentencing underscores the ongoing consequences of his misconduct.
