Detective quits sheriff's office

Officer’s relationship with informant deemed inappropriate

BENTONVILLE -- A narcotics detective with the Benton County sheriff's office resigned after being accused of having inappropriate communication with a confidential informant.

Miguel Cordova started his second stint with the sheriff's office July 2 and left last week. He resigned the first time in January 2015 after being questioned in an internal investigation about his relationship with the informant.

"We accepted his resignation and he is no longer employed here," said Sgt. Shannon Jenkins, a spokesman for the office.

Cordova recently testified at a hearing in a murder case. He admitted to sharing inappropriate text messages and photographs with a confidential informant in 2014. The informant is a witness in the murder case of Cody Wise. Cordova denied having a sexual relationship with the woman.

Cordova worked as a Bethel Heights police officer after leaving the sheriff's office the first time.

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith notified the sheriff's office last week that his office will inform all defense attorneys with any cases involving Cordova of his past conduct.

Cordova denied anything inappropriate happened between him and the informant when first questioned in the internal investigation, according to Smith's letter. Cordova later acknowledged the communication happened when he was asked about the explicit messages, according to the letter.

The decision means defense attorneys will be aware of Cordova's history and he could face questioning about the incident if one of his cases went to trial.

Wise, 29, of Siloam Springs is accused of killing 53-year-old Ronald Lee Kultgen Sr. of Garfield. Kultgen's body was found Aug. 29, 2015, in a rural area near Clifty in Madison County.

Wise was arrested Saturday over charges of delivery of methamphetamine/cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and furnishing prohibited articles. He was arrested while free on $250,000 bond in the murder case.

State Desk on 08/24/2018

Upcoming Events