KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Wyandotte County prosecutors office announced Friday that two men were indicted by a grand jury in conjunction with an investigation into the Board of Public Utilities.

Marc L. Conklin, 43, and Rodney L. Turner, 68, were indicted on two counts of theft.

The counts of theft allege that at least $125,000 was taken from the BPU between Sept. 1 2003 and June 30, 2004, and between July 1, 2004 and April 30, 2008.

Conklin is charged with 55 counts of permitting a false claim. Turner is also charged with 55 counts of presenting a false claim.

Turner is a practicing attorney. He was formerly the chief county counselor for Wyandotte County before the unification of the city and county governments in 1997.

Conklin was the general counsel of the BPU. He also served as an assistant city attorney in the municipal court.

Bond was set at $25,000 for both men.

The grand jury was convened as a result of a citizen-led petition to investigate the BPU. Twelve indictments were announced earlier and they were not related to the BPU.

BPU Issues Statement

The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities issued a statement on Friday:

"Following legal filings announced today by the district attorney, and in the best interests of the utility and our employee, the BPU's Director of Administration has been placed on a leave of absence. To protect the integrity of the judicial process involving that litigation, we will make no further comment regarding the district attorney's filings."

Marc Conklin Indictment

Rodney L. Turner Indictment