JPs vote to pay sheriff nearly $80,000 to resign

The Benton County Quorum Court holds a special session Friday at the Benton County Administration Building in Bentonville. The court voted to accept Sheriff Kelley Cradduc's resignation and declare a vacancy for the position.
The Benton County Quorum Court holds a special session Friday at the Benton County Administration Building in Bentonville. The court voted to accept Sheriff Kelley Cradduc's resignation and declare a vacancy for the position.

BENTONVILLE -- The Benton County Quorum Court agreed Friday night to pay Sheriff Kelley Cradduck nearly $80,000 to resign.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Mike Clifford of Bentonville speaks Friday during the public comment period during a special session of the Benton County Quorum Court at the Benton County Administration Building in Bentonville. The court voted to accept Sheriff Kelley Cradduck’s resignation and declare a vacancy for the position.

The figure is roughly equal to the salary and benefits he would have received if he were to remain in office for the remainder of the year.

Brent Meyers, justice of the peace for District 14, made the motion to accept Cradduck's resignation and declare a vacancy in the office, saying the resolution should be adopted "for the betterment of the county and the sheriff's office."

There was no other discussion.

"It went as I expected," said Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4. "I was pleased that it was unanimous."

Mike Clifford of Bentonville spoke about the situation and the Quorum Court's decision to pay Cradduck as a condition of his agreeing to resign from office. Clifford said he would like to see the county adopt a policy governing any future instance where an elected official is charged with a crime and found guilty. Clifford suggested mandating any elected official convicted of a crime must repay any salary and expenses received going back to the date the charges were filed.

Cradduck offered to resign in a letter from his attorney, Drew Miller. The letter gave an estimate of $79,611 due as of Monday. The amount would decrease by about $300 a day for the time it takes the county to appoint a replacement and have that person sworn in.

Cradduck's term expires at the end of the year. He was defeated in the Republican primary election in March. Shawn Holloway, who until recently was a major at the sheriff's office, won the Republican Party's nomination and will face Glenn Latham, an independent candidate, for the sheriff's position in the November election.

Cradduck faces a three-day jury trial in September on a felony charge he tampered with a public record and a misdemeanor tampering charge. He has pleaded innocent to the charges.

The justices of the peace can consider for interim sheriff any qualified elector, according to George Spence, county attorney. Spence said a qualified elector is any resident who is a registered voter. Spence said state law bars the appointment of sitting justices of the peace and Holloway and Latham, the two men who are running for sheriff in the November general election. Spence said a person appointed to a county office can't succeed themselves in that position, according to state law.

The Benton County clerk's office has received several letters and resumes from potential candidates, according to Tena O'Brien, county clerk.

Former Sheriff Andy Lee sent a letter and resume to the office by email Friday. The county also has received letters or resumes from former Sheriff Keith Ferguson and former County Judge Bruce Rutherford, along with letters from Johnie Wood of Bentonville and Meyer Gilbert of Siloam Springs.

Timothy Filbeck, who ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in the Republican Party primary, also submitted a resume Friday.

Justices of the peace have given anyone interested in serving as interim sheriff until noon April 22 to send letters or resumes to the Benton County clerk's office. A special meeting of the county's Committee of the Whole is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 25 to interview candidates.

Justices of the peace plan to name a replacement for Cradduck at the April 28 Quorum Court meeting.

State Desk on 04/16/2016

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