Photo: Kayla Browning
A woman who bilked her employer out of almost $2,200 pled guilty to charges against her in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
Thirty-one-year-old Kayla Browning — who now lives in central Arkansas – was charged with theft of property and falsifying business records.
She was sentenced to six years probation and ordered to repay the business for its loss.
Browning was due to appear in Baxter County Circuit and enter her plea late last month. But, she was sent home after being screened prior to entering the court complex and reported having symptoms possibly indicating she was positive for COVID-19.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Browning worked for a Twin Lakes Area business and had access to the company’s credit card machine. She is accused of falsifying four transactions resulting in refunds being sent to what turned out to be Browning’s personal account.
The first transaction took place Nov. 21 last year. Others were made Dec. 2, Dec. 16 and Jan. 6. The fourth refund attempt involved slightly more than $1,000 and triggered a “red flag alert,” resulting in the business owner being contacted and asked to look into the suspicious transactions.
As part of the owner’s investigation, Browning was questioned. During the interview, she is reported to have exited the business and never returned.
She was arrested and booked into the Baxter County jail in late January and released on $2,500 bond.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI