The former director of Yell County Emergency Medical Services and his wife pleaded innocent Thursday to multiple charges in connection with $680,175 in unauthorized or undocumented payments reported by an audit.
Sidney Lee Ward, 69, and his wife, Donna Ward, 42, both of Belleville, entered their pleas during a Thursday morning appearance in Yell County Circuit Court in Danville.
Sidney Ward is the former director of Yell County EMS, and Donna Ward is the former bookkeeper.
Sidney Ward is charged with six counts of felony theft of property in an amount of $25,000 or more, according to court documents.
Donna Ward is charged with three counts of felony theft of property in an amount of $25,000 or more and three counts of felony theft of property in an amount less than $25,000 but more than $5,000, according to court documents. She also is charged with one felony count of computer fraud, one felony count of unlawful act regarding computers and one felony count of tampering with physical evidence.
The couple was arrested Jan. 25 after an investigative report released by the Arkansas Legislative Audit claimed the Wards received $680,175 in unauthorized or undocumented payments from Jan. 1, 2010, through Aug. 7, 2015.
Sidney Ward was overpaid $528,646 during that time period, the report states.
Donna Ward received $119,686 in overpayments, according to the report. Her dependents also improperly benefited from $31,843 in health insurance premiums, the report said.
The pair were suspended from their positions Aug. 7 and fired Oct. 27.
The couple are scheduled for a pretrial hearing April 7.
State Desk on 02/05/2016