Ethics complaint against Harrison dismissed

Graham Sloan, commission director, released a letter saying the commission voted 5-0 to dismiss the complaint.

BENTONVILLE — A complaint filed against Benton County Justice of the Peace Kevin Harrison has been dismissed by the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Former Sheriff Kelley Cradduck filed the complaint in March, accusing Harrison of using his influence to prevent deputies from serving bank papers that would have allowed the sale of his personal property because he owed a $10,000 tax debt.

The complaint accused Harrison of contacting Shawn Holloway, then a major with the Sheriff’s Office, about the papers.

The commission released its findings Friday.

“I had no doubt that would happen,” Harrison said of the dismissal. “It’s not hard to defend the truth. It’s over, and I knew that was going to be the result.”

Graham Sloan, commission director, released a letter saying the commission voted 5-0 to dismiss the complaint.

An investigation showed Harrison contacted the Sheriff’s Office to ask about his options concerning the service of the papers, and Harrison was told to contact the state revenue office, according to Sloan’s letter.

The commission found there was no evidence Harrison requested or received special treatment, the letter stated.

Holloway was one of the candidates who ran against Cradduck for the Republican Party nomination for sheriff. Harrison was a vocal supporter of Holloway during the campaign.

Holloway won the nomination and will face Glenn Latham, an independent candidate, in the Nov. 8 election.

Harrison acknowledged after the complaint was filed he owed more than $10,000 in taxes and interest, the result of an error made when he and his wife filed tax returns thinking money they received as punitive damages in a civil suit wasn’t taxable.

Sloan’s letter stated Harrison had paid the tax debt.

Harrison also confirmed he has paid the tax debt.

Harrison