The former recorder/treasurer for the City of Bull Shoals, 48-year-old Kimberly Williams of Bull Shoals, has been arrested and charged with a felony count of theft of property.According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday, in January Bull Shoals Mayor David Nixon reported possible stolen funds by Williams, who resigned from her position about July 5th, 2017.
At the time Williams resigned from office, she allegedly paid herself for time she was not able to accrue.
City Council member Marty Nickels was asked to sign the check to Williams, per the city’s policy requiring two signatures. Nickles told law enforcement Williams advised him the funds were a separation payment.
When questioned about the check by law enforcement, Williams allegedly did not deny having paid herself for accrued vacation time, saying she was only doing what all the other recorder/treasurers had done before her.
She said she had been told the position was like all other city employees, allowing for the accrued vacation time. However, she said she had not confirmed this information through state statute or city ordinance.
A review of the check stub shows Williams paid herself 116 hours at a rate of $20 per hour, for a total of $2,320.
The affidavit notes a second former recorder/treasurer who assumed the position after Williams was interviewed in late June. She told the officer she also accrued vacation time when she held the position, saying she did so at the direction of Williams. She, too, said she did not check this information with state statute or city ordinance. The affidavit does not indicate if the second recorder/treasurer received compensation for the vacation time.
Online jail records indicate Williams was booked into the Marion County Detention Center Thursday afternoon at 4:26 and released at 6:00 Thursday night on a bond of $2,600.
She is set to appear in Marion County Circuit Court later this month.
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