Three former Benton County employees facing theft charges are set for a jury trial July 29.
Scott Stober, Jackie Brown and Grant McCracken were arrested last summer and charged in connection with allegations of theft involving the Benton County Road Department. The three men are scheduled to be tried together.
Stober, the county's 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.
According to court documents, Stober, 47, of Bella Vista, 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.
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.