Former teller with Regions faces theft, exploitation charges

Alleged withdrawals from account of senior citizen led to investigation

ASHDOWN, Ark. — A former Regions bank teller accused of stealing funds from a senior citizen’s account at the Ashdown branch has been charged with felony theft and exploitation.

Abby Layne Parton, 29, came to the attention of Ashdown police in 2018 after the son of an elderly Regions account holder made a complaint at Regions’ main office in Texarkana, according to a probable-cause affidavit. The alleged victim’s son reported that he spoke to Parton, who regularly assisted his mother, at the Ashdown branch after noticing several questionable cash withdrawals totaling more than $1,000.

Parton allegedly told the woman’s son that the discrepancies were the result of “copy and paste errors involving her next customer at the bank at that time.” The son wasn’t satisfied with Parton’s explanation and took his concerns to the main branch in Texarkana.

After her conversation with the woman’s son, Parton allegedly made six deposits totaling $2,600 into the woman’s account between May 24, 2018, and June 1, 2018. A corporate security investigator for Regions Bank was assigned the case June 1.

Using video surveillance and banking records, the investigator was able to determine that 16 cash withdrawals were made from the alleged victim’s accounts when neither she nor her sons were present at the bank. Parton is allegedly the Regions employee who made all the suspicious withdrawals totaling $4,360.

Investigators determined Parton allegedly made more than $18,000 in cash deposits to her personal account which were not related to her pay as a teller. Parton was allegedly on leave because of a family member’s illness June 6 and 7, 2018, and was allegedly on “sick leave” June 8, 2018.

On June 11, 2018, an employee of Regions in Ashdown allegedly reported that Parton had been interviewing for other jobs while on sick leave and had more interviews “lined up.” On June 25, 2018, the Ashdown branch reported that Parton was not at work and that her keys had been left in the night deposit. Parton was “allowed to resign effective June 25, 2018,” the affidavit states.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Al Smith signed off in September 2019 on formal charges against Parton of abuse of adults, exploitation and theft of property. The exploitation charge is

punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000. Theft of property, greater than $1,000 but less than $5,000, is punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Court records show Parton is represented by Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson. The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Charles Yeargen, 9th Judicial District West. Parton is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing later this month. She is currently free on a $15,000 commercial bond.