From the Arkansas Advocate:
Arkansas State Police on Tuesday arrested Helena-West Helena’s mayor for failing to file tax returns, according to a press release from the agency.
Christopher Franklin Sr., 44, was taken into custody during a traffic stop around 5 p.m. Tuesday. He was transported to the St. Francis County Detention Center, where a judge set his bond at $100,000, according to the release.
First Judicial District Prosecutor Todd Murray asked ASP in June 2024 to investigate Franklin. A Special Investigations Unit (SIU) probe revealed the Helena-West Helena mayor had not filed taxes four of the past five years.
Franklin was charged with four counts of Failure to Pay or File a Tax Return, a Class D felony. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available, the release states.
In late May, Franklin refused to resign as mayor after the City Council voted 6-0 that he step down. The resolution was a response to a profanity-laden video call between the mayor, his adult daughter and his adult niece that went viral online.
Council member Maxine Miller introduced the resolution to censure Franklin and call for his resignation “for conduct unbecoming of the office of mayor during a recent Facebook Live broadcast,” The Helena World reported.
Franklin told council members he was not leaving, and abruptly adjourned the meeting after the resolution vote despite a lengthy agenda. The World reported at the time that petitions were being circulated in Helena-West Helena seeking a recall election to remove the mayor.
