VIDEO: Sheriff reinstates demoted deputies

Robin Holt (left) and Jeremy Guyll look Tuesday at the crowd assembled to watch their grievance hearing against Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck. Both claim Cradduck demoted them because they cooperated with an Arkansas State Police investigation.
Robin Holt (left) and Jeremy Guyll look Tuesday at the crowd assembled to watch their grievance hearing against Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck. Both claim Cradduck demoted them because they cooperated with an Arkansas State Police investigation.

12:23 p.m. update

Sheriff Kelly Cradduck announced Wednesday that he was reinstating Jeremy Guyll as captain and Robin Holt as lieutenant at the jail.

Original Story

BENTONVILLE — A Benton County grievance committee has recommended Sheriff Kelley Cradduck reinstate two employees to their former ranks and duties.

The five justices of the peace on the committee agreed unanimously Tuesday night that Jeremy Guyll and Robin Holt are protected by the state’s Whistleblower Act. The justices also found that two were not treated equally.

Guyll and Holt testified they were recently demoted by Cradduck after cooperating with a Arkansas State Police criminal investigation into possible wrong doing by the sheriff. Guyll is the former jail captain and Holt is a former jail lieutenant.

The hearing lasted for about four hours and the five justices of the peace on the grievance committee deliberated for nearly an hour. About 100 people filled the courtroom to watch the hearing, many of them were deputies and some in uniform. The audience broke into applause when the decision was announced.

“The decision is a recommendation,” Kurt Moore, justice of the peace for District 13 said. “We indicated the employees were covered by the Whistleblower Act. That directive certainly anticipates a certain action by the elected officials.

“We highly recommend the sheriff reinstate them.”

Barb Ludwig, county human resources administrator, previously said the grievance committee’s decision is advisory and not binding on an elected county official or department head.

Cradduck did not attend the hearing and could not be reached for comment afterward. The sheriff, who is seeking re-election, has said the allegations against him are politically motivated.

The sheriff has said the two were demoted for their part in making a video that mocked rape victims. Drew Miller, Cradduck’s attorney, showed the video of Holt, who was in uniform, dancing and referencing “The Whip and The Nae-Nae along with Souja Boy’s Superman. Holt and others were meeting about the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

Guyll admitted recording the video and sending it to a few people at the Sheriff’s Office, including Cradduck’s wife. The video was recorded in September.

Miller described the video as mocking or making fun of prison rape victims and said it was the reason for the demotions.

Holt denied that she was making fun of rape victims. Holt said dark humor is a common practice at the Sheriff’s Office and it helps them cope with their jobs.

Guyll testified that others were present when the recording was made, and they were not punished.

Justice of the Peace Michelle Chiocco said the internal investigation findings influenced her decision. She said the investigation recommended all of the people involved in making the video should be disciplined.

Guyll testified that he had lost $700 per month in pay due to his demotion. Holt said she had lost $400 per month because of her demotion.

Holt testified that Cradduck participates in the dark humor and had allowed his wife to use his ticket book to jokingly write a ticket for beastallity to another Sheriff’s Office employee.

Both Guyll and Holt testified that they had to call Cradduck’s wife cell number in order to communicate with the sheriff.

Susan Kendall, one of the attorney’s for Guyll and Holt, wanted to know how much time Cradduck’s wife spends at the Sheriff’s Office.

“I would say if he’s there 8 days a month then she’s there 7,” Guyll said.

Jason Barrett has been appointed a special prosecutor to determine whether Cradduck committed any criminal acts. The Arkansas State Police is investigating the hiring of Gabriel Cox, who listed his address as the Cradduck residence.

Cradduck is accused of instructing Diana Goodwin, his executive assistant, to back date Cox’s hiring date. He was hired Oct. 7, but Cradduck wanted the hiring date listed as Sept. 27.

Goodwin, Holt and Guyll did not comply with the order.

Holt talked with a special agent with the Arkansas State Police, but Guyll said he has never been questioned by the state police in connection with the investigation.

Holt testified that she believes that Cradduck’s request concerning Cox was illegal. Guyll reported the matter to Major Nathan Atchison.

Diana Goodwin, who is Cradduck’s executive assistant, also testified that she was interviewed by State Police and that Cradduck ordered her to back date Cox’s hiring. Goodwin also testified that the special agent asked her to record a conversation with Cradduck about back dating Cox’s hiring. Goodwin filled out the hiring form with the September date and recorded her conversation with the Sheriff.

Atchison said he later gave the recording to the State Police.

Miller presented a letter from Nathan Smith, Benton County’s prosecuting attorney, where Smith states that Major Shawn Holloway is the first person that contacted the prosecutor’s office about the allegations concerning Cox.

Holloway is one of Cradduck’s opponent’s in next year’s election.

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