The man who stole funds from the Marion County Airport while serving as the treasurer has been sentenced and ordered to pay restitution. Sixty-six-year-old Douglas E. Starkey of Yellville pled guilty to theft of property and abuse of office, both felonies, and was given five years of probation as part of a plea deal with the state. He was also ordered to repay the entire $117,696 he stole from the airport along with $1,490 in fines, court costs and fees.
Starkey, who served on the Marion County Airport Board of Directors for 30 years, including time as treasurer, was arrested in May following an 11-month investigation by a special agent with the Arkansas State Police (ASP).
According to the probable cause affidavit in the case, in June of last year, 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge received a report of the missing funds. A legislative audit was requested and the completed reports were turned over to the special agent in early April.
The audit revealed Starkey, since 2017, had stolen $117,696 from two separate airport accounts. Starkey had written checks to himself to facilitate the theft.
The ASP special agent conducted interviews with witnesses including John Dyess, another member of the airport board. Dyess says Starkey confessed to him he had taken the money. Starkey, while texting Dyess, agreed to pay the money back, however, he could not come up with the money.
Following the audit, the special agent met with Starkey. He admitted to stealing a certificate of deposit worth $75,000. After depleting that, he continued to write checks to himself. He was unable to give a specific amount he had stolen from the airport, but said the figures presented in the audit appeared accurate.
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