BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony and misdemeanor charge of tampering.
Cradduck appeared in court Monday and entered the not-guilty plea at his arraignment in Circuit Judge Robing Green's court. Cradduck, 45, of Rogers is charged with tampering with a public record, a Class D felony; and tampering, a Class A misdemeanor.
He was arrested Jan. 19.
The judge asked Cradduck how did he plead to the charges.
"Not guilty," Cradduck loudly responded.
The felony charge accuses Cradduck of falsifying an employee payroll request form for Gabriel Cox by reflecting a start date of Sept. 28 instead of his Oct. 7 hiring date. The change in hire dates would have resulted in Cox being paid for time he didn't work, according to court documents.
The misdemeanor charge accuses Cradduck of knowing an Arkansas State Police investigation was under way and instructing his assistant, Diana Goodwin, to lie to investigators by falsely informing them Cradduck never asked her to back date the employee payroll request form, according to court documents.
Cradduck has said he was attempting to help Cox, who was homeless at the time, by hiring him to work in the jail. Cox recently was fired after Rogers police arrested him in connection with misdemeanor drug charges. Cox's personnel records listed Cradduck 's address as his home when he was hired. The sheriff has said Cox moved into an apartment in Rogers after he received his first paycheck.
Cradduck's arraignment was handled in Green's court, but the criminal case is assigned to Circuit Judge Brad Karren.
Cradduck is currently seeking his third term in the upcoming Republican primary. He is running for the Republican nomination for sheriff against Siloam Springs Cpl. Timothy Filbeck, Major Shawn Holloway with the Sheriff's Office and Lowell Lt. Paul Pillaro.
The primary election is March 1. Cradduck's next court appearance is set for 8:30 a.m. March 31.
General News on 02/24/2016