The Documents: Investigation Into the Washington County Sheriff’s Department

The Local Investigation Reaches a Stopping Point

A November 2024 letter from Washington County Deputy Attorney Catherine Baker summarized their findings. They handed it over to the County Prosecutor because they believed two of the allegations reached the level of felonies.

"Chief of Staff Michael Stewart, County Attorney Brian Lester, and I were asked to investigate employees of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether county property was being used for personal gain, whether county property was being sold without authority, and whether the proceeds from such sales were converted for personal use. While Sheriff’s Office leadership assured full cooperation, the investigation has come to a stopping point.
We are now requesting further review from the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office. The general allegations are directed against five persons, but the investigation is incomplete. Allegations include using county equipment on personal property, in some cases over a period of years; selling scrap items without authority from the County Judge, who has authority over all county property; retaining the proceeds from such sales for personal enrichment; and using the labor of a 309 trustee, which is a fiduciary relationship, in furtherance of these activities. We have uncovered documentation which tends to support the allegations against four of these persons, with two reaching felony level values. This is based only on the supporting documentation uncovered during our investigation, other lines of questioning and additional potential sources of documentation remain. Additionally, the information conveyed both informally by leadership and by some of the interviewees is directly contradicted by the documentation produced so far."

What the Sheriff's Department Says

The Sheriff’s Office disagreed with the County Judge's Office on the seriousness of the issues and whether enough had been done. They had done their own investigation in February and March of 2024. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that an employee used county equipment at home, but said it was part of a long-standing practice that many workers had followed for years. While the practice was found by the Sheriff's Office to be against state law, internal investigators said the employee didn’t know it was wrong and recommended no punishment. The practice was ordered to stop.

The scrap metal sales were also found by the Sheriff's Department to be mishandled, with confusion and no proper documentation. But the department claimed the money was used for office-related purposes. The Sheriff’s report agreed that new rules were needed to make sure all future sales are documented and the money goes to the County Treasurer.

What the Arkansas Special Prosecutor Says

In May 2025, a state special prosecutor was appointed to take over. The local prosecutors had conflicts of interest because they work closely with both the Sheriff’s Office and the County Judge’s Office. They stepped aside to avoid any appearance of bias and to ensure justice.

After reviewing a third investigation completed by the Arkansas State Police, the special prosecutor decided not to file any criminal charges. One main allegation was that an employee took materials from the county to use on their personal home. But the investigation showed the wiring at the employee’s house was a different type than what the county had, so there wasn’t enough evidence to prove theft.

There was evidence that employees used county equipment on personal projects. While this is a serious issue, the special prosecutor said it didn’t rise to the level of criminal theft. Instead, it may be considered an “illegal exaction,” which means public property or funds were used in a way that’s not allowed under the Arkansas Constitution. He said that type of issue would need to be handled through a civil lawsuit, not by a criminal prosecutor.

The Arkansas State Police report has not yet been shared publicly, and it’s not clear if or when it will be available. The County Judge told the Quorum Court in an email that while the special prosecutor’s report covers some key issues, it does not cover everything found during the investigation. It’s not clear why some points were left out, and this might lead to more questions going forward.

Next Steps: The Quorum Court

The whole investigation started with whistleblowers on the Quorum Court. Now, it may come back to Justices of the Peace on the Quorum Court in just a few months, as we review the 2026 budget.

The Judge’s Office report says deeper changes are needed to fix the problems with oversight. It recommends moving some employees who work in maintenance, IT, and human resources out from under the Sheriff’s Office and placing them back under their regular county departments. Whatever change is made, it needs to improve accountability and make sure public resources are managed the right way. The Quorum Court should have a stronger role in overseeing spending and policies to prevent future issues.

As the Quorum Court considers these recommendations and reviews the 2026 budget, it is very important for the public to stay involved and keep holding county leaders accountable. Strong oversight and community engagement are key to making sure public resources are used properly and that things like these don’t happen again. Together, the community and its leaders can help build a more open and trustworthy government for everyone in Washington County.