Greers Ferry mayor resigns after guilty plea in theft, forgery

Michelle Davis has resigned as the mayor of Greers Ferry after pleading guilty to taking money intended for victims of a May 2008 tornado in the Cleburne County town, officials said Wednesday.

Davis pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft of property and second-degree forgery, both felonies, said Holly Meyer, Cleburne County deputy prosecutor.

Davis was sentenced to four years’ probation and 200 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay $2,143 in restitution.

Davis had paid about $400 back earlier, Meyer said.

She resigned as mayor Tuesday evening after making her plea, said Greers Ferry Recorder/Treasurer Treva James.

Meyer said Davis admitted to taking money that was donated for victims of a May 2,2008, tornado that struck the Cleburne County town.

As mayor, Davis was supposed to disburse the funds to victims from an account at the Heber Springs State Bank that contained $10,278.

A routine audit of the city’s finances last May revealed discrepancies in the tornadofund, Meyer said.

An affidavit previously filed with the circuit clerk’s office in Heber Springs said Davis wrote a check on the relief fund’s bank account for $2,000 on July 3, 2008, and reported that the money was used to buy 10 money ordersfor $200 each to give to tornado victims.

According to the affidavit, her personal account at another bank reflected that that amount of money was deposited there the same day, but the mayor didn’t buy the money orders until Aug. 21, 2008, the affidavit added.

On June 24, 2008, the affidavit said, a check for $1,793 was issued to and by Davis “for various debts.” Among the receipts and information Davis provided was an invoice from Community Water System for $1,104.89 billed to the Greers Ferry tornado-relief fund. That invoice “was determined to be a forgery,” the affidavit said.

Davis also was accused ofadditional thefts of $1,604.03 and $538.49 in the affidavit.

State auditors reviewing the town’s finances and the tornado-relief fund identified a $347.20 receipt from a culvert company as among those authorities believe were fraudulent. Among them were four receipts altered when someone cut off the name of the account to which purchases were charged, the affidavit said.

“The mayor created a scam of fake receipts that purported to give money to victims,” Meyer said.

James will act as interim mayor until someone is appointed to serve Davis’ remaining year in office or a special election is held.

Information for this article was contributed by Debra Hale-Shelton of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 12/24/2009

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