Former Centerton chamber president found not guilty

BENTONVILLE — A judge found the former president of the Centerton Area Chamber of Commerce not guilty of charges accusing him of using the organization’s money for his personal expenses.

Michael Finke, 51, was found not guilty of theft of property and fraudulent use of a debit/credit card, both Class C felonies.

Circuit Judge Robin Green announced the not guilty verdicts Monday morning. She presided over a bench trial in January, and used Monday’s proceedings to announce her decision.

The decision rested with Green after Finke waived his right to a jury trial.

Green said there was probable cause to arrest Finke, but she cited the chamber ’s poor record keeping and a lack of documentation as reasons for finding Finke not guilty.

“Mr. Finke is happy to be exonerated and he can move on with his life,” said Billy Bob Webb, Finke’s attorney. “His family has been through a lot.”

Finke was arrested in May 2013. He was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the chamber.

Members of the chamber board presented Centerton police with bank statements and receipts from January 2011 to August 2012 showing charges that totaled $18,125 in what staff believed were personal expenses, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Detectives reviewed hundreds of receipts for fast food purchases, groceries, car washes, gasoline, dry cleaning and pizza deliveries to Finke’s home, the affidavit reads. Detective Cody Harper said a receipt dated Aug. 13, 2011, that documented a payment to a Rogers AT&T store for a cellphone for Arleen Finke, Michael Finke ‘s wife, caught his attention.

Bank statements showed additional transactions for a cellphone and cable television and storage locker bill payments, according to court documents.

Finke denied stealing from the chamber during his January trial. Finke said there was an agreement he could use money from the chamber for personal expenses since he was using space in his home for an office.

Judy Patterson testified during the trial she and her husband initially started the chamber, which was dormant for years before becoming active again in 2010. The couple brought Finke on board to help grow the organization. Finke was hired in January 2011, according to court documents.

Finke agreed to take no pay because he was collecting unemployment at the time, Patterson said.

Patterson testified she had never seen the minutes where Finke was given permission to pay personal expenses with money from the chamber. Patterson said she would never would have agreed to give Finke permission to use chamber money to pay personal expenses.

Glenn Patterson agreed with his wife. He testified he wouldn’t have agreed to give Finke permission to use chamber money for personal expenses.

Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at [email protected] or Twitter @NWATracy.

Green said there was probable cause to arrest Finke, but she cited the chamber’s poor record keeping and a lack of documentation as reasons for finding Finke not guilty.

Upcoming Events