The latest Legislative Audit report is finally published and it reveals another spending violation at the Sheriff's Office. Ark. Code Ann. § 14-14-1202 states that no officer or employee of county government shall be interested in any transaction made by the county unless the quorum court previously approved that purchase.
According to the report Deputy Jake (Jack?) Pike was paid $6,200 for a vehicle in apparent direct violation of this law. The Auditors recommend action be taken by the Prosecuting attorney's office.
In reading this report we have a few questions and concerns about it. First it was dated August 31, 2006 yet it was not made public until recently. What is the reason for this delay? Secondly is an investigation ongoing into this misspending? Or will this just me another case where the law will be overlooked for another member of the good old boy system.
With Sheriff Montgomery's time in office quickly coming to an end we the citizens of this county must wonder how much more misspending will be uncovered. We also have to wonder how much more misspending is yet to come as his term ends.
The citizens of this state desperately need better laws that will punish these offenses, we need to make these kinds of crimes a felony that are prosecutable at the state level. But what can we do about it you ask? You can call or write your local State Senator or Representative and ask them to sponsor a drafted bill, MBM516, that will make the misspending of public money a felony. As we see it this is our only chance of preventing further misspending.
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