BENTONVILLE -- Benton County comptroller Sarah Wilson was placed on administrative leave Friday, and Sheriff Kelley Cradduck said his office is "re-evaluating" its investigation into thefts involving the Road Department.
Asked if the re-evaluation concerned Wilson and if her being placed on leave by County Judge Bob Clinard was related to those questions, Cradduck said it did.
At A Glance
Court Hearing
Scott Stober, former head of the Benton County Road Department, and Jackie Dale Brown and Grant McCracken, former Road Department supervisors, were arrested last summer in connection with theft. The three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are scheduled for pretrial hearings Monday in Benton County Circuit Court.
Source: Staff Report
"We're just trying to find out about some dates and times of events that may have happened and just go from there," Cradduck said.
Wilson said she was given no reason for being placed on leave by Clinard.
"I don't know why I'm on suspension," Wilson said. "He told me I was and he told me he couldn't say why. That's all I know."
Wilson also said she had no knowledge of anything the Sheriff's Office might be investigating.
"I have no clue what he's talking about," she said. "I have just done my job."
Clinard said he couldn't comment on Wilson's status other than to confirm she was placed on administrative leave with pay at noon Friday. He said the situation is being reviewed and additional action will be taken soon.
Clinard said the situation concerning Wilson didn't involve his office.
"This has nothing to do with anything I have done or anything I haven't done," he said.
Mike Crandall, county accounting manager, said he knew nothing about Wilson's situation other than she was placed on leave.
"The judge came in and said, 'Tell the troops' and come see him Monday," Crandall said. "That's all I know."
Three employees were arrested last summer after the Sheriff's Office investigated theft of county property and misuse of money in the Road Department. Scott Stober,public service administrator who oversaw the department, was arrested July 30 in connection with theft of property, a Class D felony; and theft of property, a Class C felony. He later resigned.
Stober and Wilson were in a relationship before his arrest, Sheriff's Office investigators and Wilson confirmed at the time, and investigators spent several days last summer looking through records in the accounting office.
Clinard met with Capt. Chris Sparks with the Sheriff's Office about allegations against Stober, according to court documents. Clinard provided Sparks with receipts and invoices where Stober used county money for personal purchases. Stober purchased parts totaling $1,487 from JAB Truck Transmission and Differential Co. to rebuild the rear differential on his truck.
He's also accused of buying tires totaling $858 from Moore's Tires in February 2013. Stober told Sparks he bought wood from Ridout Lumber with county money in July. He used the wood to build a deck onto his home. The affidavit states Stober, 47, of Bella Vista, told Sparks he purchased a toolbox for his county vehicle with county money, but then used the toolbox as a toy box for his children. Stober also is accused of using county money to paint his home.
Theft of property is a Class D felony if the property's value is $5,000 or less, but more than $1,000, according to Arkansas law. The Class D felony concerns charges related to county money. Stober is accused of stealing taxpayer money from Oct. 1, 2012, to July 5 in an amount exceeding $1,000 by purchasing items for himself.
Theft of property is a Class C felony when the value is less than $25,000, but more than $5,000, according to state law. The Class C felony isn't related to county property. Stober is accused of stealing a welder and water storage tank, along with piping valued at more than $5,000 from Walter Ericksen.
Two other department supervisors were arrested Aug. 10. Jackie Dale Brown, 51, of Rogers was arrested in connection with theft of property, a Class C felony; theft of services, a Class A misdemeanor; and obstructing governmental operations, a Class C misdemeanor. Grant McCracken, 42, of Fayetteville was arrested in connection with being an accomplice to theft of property, a Class A misdemeanor.
Brown is accused of stealing more than $5,000 in taxpayer money to pay for personal expenses and also stealing money from selling property sold to Rogers Iron & Metal. The theft of services charge involves an accusation Brown directed other employees to spend eight hours on his land planting trees while they were being paid with taxpayer money. The misdemeanor obstruction charge is in connection with a claim Brown lied to Sheriff's Office deputies investigating theft in the Road Department.
The misdemeanor charge against McCracken involves a claim he helped Stober in committing theft by picking up lumber from Ridout Lumber and taking it to Stober's home. The lumber was paid for with taxpayer money and was intended for Stober's personal use.
Brown resigned and McCracken was fired and his subsequent appeal was denied.
NW News on 04/05/2014