A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Benton County Quorum Court Approves Buy Out Of Sheriff

Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck

The Benton County Quorum Court has voted unanimously to meet the resignation conditions of Sheriff Kelley Cradduck, who is facing tampering charges.

Cradduck offered to resign Tuesday if the Quorum Court met conditions, including a payment of $80,000 to cover the salary and benefits owed to him through the end of 2016.

Officials approved spending $80,000 from the county's general fund reserve Tuesday night. The decision to accept Cradduck's resignation and declare a vacancy in the Benton County Sheriff's Office was discussed, but not acted on.

Cradduck has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of tampering with a public record and a misdemeanor count of tampering. He's accused of falsifying an employee payroll request and of instructing his assistant to lie about it to Arkansas State Police investigators.

Cradduck was defeated for re-election in the March 1 Republican primary.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.