Fire official sentenced to probation for theft

A member of the White Oak Lake Volunteer Fire Department pleaded guilty to theft of public benefits in excess of $2,500, according to court documents.

John Lewis, 71, of Chidester was sentenced to three years’ probation as part of a plea deal, according to documents filed May 19 in the 13th Circuit Court.

Under terms of the agreement, Lewis must pay $14,241 in restitution to the Fire Department.

According to court documents, 13th Judicial Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Rogers requested on July 13, 2021, an investigation into the misuse of funds from the Fire Department. Arkansas Legislative Audit conducted an investigation from January 2016 through December 31, 2020.

Receipts, bank statements, invoices and other records were examined, and personal interviews were conducted, records state.

Lewis was treasurer for the Fire Department during the time period investigated.

According to court records, the audit found the following discrepancies:

■ $12,955 for 96 undocumented ATM withdrawals that appeared to have been made by Lewis.

■ $1,088 in payments to various businesses without adequate documentation.

■ $102 in fuel purchases instead

Today’s radar speed checks

Little Rock police and the Pulaski County sheriff’s office will use radar to detect speeding at these locations. Police and sheriff’s deputies may conduct radar checks in other locations as well.

Little Rock: 9800 Geyer Springs Rd.

Pulaski County: Jacksonville Conway Rd. of mileage reimbursements for the fire chief’s personal vehicle when it was used for Fire Department purposes.

■ $96 in disbursements for Christmas party expenses.

According to the report, several debit card charges were marked out on copies of the 2019 bank statements. Analysis of the statements obtained directly from the bank indicate that many of the these blacked-out statements correspond to the undocumented ATM withdrawals.

According to the Arkansas State Police, Lewis acknowledged taking the funds for his personal use. Records say Lewis told authorities that in December 2020 he told Fire Chief Cecil Hooks the records “were really messed up” and offered to pay the money back at a rate of $100 per month until he could sell his house and pay back all the money.

According to the affidavit, Lewis said he would take the department debit card, withdraw money and put the money in his account. He stated he “just come up on bad times and did the wrong thing.”