The Newton County Assessor, Sheila McCutcheon, was arrested for the second time within a year at her office Monday afternoon on a felony perjury charge after a handwriting expert determined she had forged her deceased mother, Lorene Smith's, name on more than 50 documents. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, McCutcheon was taken from her office in the Newton County Courthouse, in Jasper, in handcuffs to the Harrison Police Department. She posted a $10,000 bond and was released the same day, according to Harrison Police Department Chief Paul Woodruff.
She was arrested after allegedly stating under oath, on February 11, 2016, she had never forged Smith's signature. The perjury charge stems from a civil-court case regarding Smith's estate.
Document examiner Dawn Phillips determined McCutcheon had signed Smith's name on six sets of documents and two checks and fraudulently endorsed more than 50 checks.
McCutcheon's previous arrest was in June 2016 when she and her chief deputy, 35-year old Desiray McCutcheon, Shelia McCutcheon's daughter-in-law, were charged with felony theft of property for allegedly charging personal items to two county-issued credit cards.
According to court records, the Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit provided detailed reports regarding purchases by the Assessor's Office from 2010 to 2015 on credit cards issued to the office. It is estimated that slightly more than $11,500 were involved.
Auditors examined purchases by the office and found that the two women not only made purchases on the cards but also made personal payments on the accounts.
On May 19th, the assessor and chief deputy were interviewed and, according to court records, admitted to using the county-issued cards to purchase personal items.
McCutcheon resigned after the theft charge even though she had already filed for re-election. Because she was unopposed, she was re-elected to the Assessor position in November and resumed office in January. She retains the office because she has not yet been to trial.
She was arrested after allegedly stating under oath, on February 11, 2016, she had never forged Smith's signature. The perjury charge stems from a civil-court case regarding Smith's estate.
Document examiner Dawn Phillips determined McCutcheon had signed Smith's name on six sets of documents and two checks and fraudulently endorsed more than 50 checks.
McCutcheon's previous arrest was in June 2016 when she and her chief deputy, 35-year old Desiray McCutcheon, Shelia McCutcheon's daughter-in-law, were charged with felony theft of property for allegedly charging personal items to two county-issued credit cards.
According to court records, the Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit provided detailed reports regarding purchases by the Assessor's Office from 2010 to 2015 on credit cards issued to the office. It is estimated that slightly more than $11,500 were involved.
Auditors examined purchases by the office and found that the two women not only made purchases on the cards but also made personal payments on the accounts.
On May 19th, the assessor and chief deputy were interviewed and, according to court records, admitted to using the county-issued cards to purchase personal items.
McCutcheon resigned after the theft charge even though she had already filed for re-election. Because she was unopposed, she was re-elected to the Assessor position in November and resumed office in January. She retains the office because she has not yet been to trial.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI